Page 21 of A Roar for Magic

“We weren’t?—”

“You absolutely were.” Banner settled beside Sabine, his usually serious expression softened by amusement. “ThoughI have to say, it’s nice seeing the alpha actually relax for once. Usually he’s all growly energy and serious business face. Yesterday he spent three hours creating increasingly creative reasons to stop by Spellbound Lights.”

“I do not have a serious business face,” Rook protested.

“You really do,” Clover said without thinking. When he turned those intense eyes on her, she shrugged. “What? You came into my shop looking like you were preparing to negotiate a hostile takeover.”

“See?” Sabine nudged her brother. “This is why you need her. Someone has to teach you how to loosen up.”

“I am perfectly loose,” Rook muttered, but his lips twitched.

“Right.” Banner snorted. “That’s why you spent three hours practicing casual ways to ask Clover to this totally-not-a-date picnic.”

Clover’s heart did a little flip. “You did?”

“I did not.” But the tips of his ears had gone pink. “I was reviewing security protocols.”

“For asking out pretty witches?” Sabine’s eyes danced.

“Don’t you have somewhere else to be?” Rook growled.

“Absolutely not. This is the most entertainment I’ve had in weeks.” Sabine stole one of Romi’s magical pastries from Clover’s plate. “Besides, someone has to make sure you don’t scare her off with your growly alpha routine.”

“I do not growl.”

“You’re growling right now!”

“All right, lovebirds!” Romi’s voice cut through their bickering. She bounded over with Xabir in tow, practically vibrating with excitement. “Time for the games to begin. We need two more for the three-legged race.”

“Oh, no.” Clover shook her head. The thought of being tied to Rook, pressed against his side... her magic buzzed just thinking about it. “I don’t think?—”

“Scared?” His eyes held that magnetic pull that made her forget to breathe. “After all that talk about my coordination?”

“Pretty sure being tied to you wasn’t part of the business meeting agenda,” she managed.

That mischievous glint returned to his eyes. “I’m open to revising the agenda.”

The game preparation turned into an event of its own. Couples gathered near the willow trees where Weston, looking far too amused for Rook’s third-in-command, waited with lengths of silk ribbon magically enhanced to resist shifter strength.

“No cheating this time,” he called out, eyeing several of the younger shifters. “I’m looking at you, Lane. No partial shifts to get extra speed.”

Rook’s hand settled on her waist as Weston knelt to tie their inside legs together. The touch sent sparks of awareness dancing across her skin, her magic humming in response to his proximity. Despite her best intentions, she found herself leaning into his warmth, drawn by the steady strength of him.

“Too tight?” Weston asked, testing the knot.

“It’s fine,” Clover managed, though she wasn’t sure if she was answering Weston or trying to convince herself that being pressed against Rook’s side was completely normal and not at all flustering.

“Remember,” he murmured close to her ear, his breath stirring butterfly wings against her skin, “we move together. Let me guide you.”

Oh, that was just unfair. His voice carried that dangerous edge that made her magic purr, and the double meaning in his words...

“I think I can handle a three-legged race without alpha intervention,” she said, thankful that her voice didn’t waver despite the way her heart hammered against her ribs.

“Stubborn witch.”

“Arrogant tiger.”

“If you two are done with the foreplay,” Sabine called from where she stood with Banner, “some of us would like to start the race this century.”

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