Page 38 of Kin of the Wolf

A sense of satisfaction emanated from him. No… it seemed like that feeling came from thecase. But in the weeks I’d been close to it, it hadn’t given off any emotions, none that I’d detected.

This was a dream or vision, I reminded myself. Not reality.

The view blurred and changed to show Chad on a ship, sailing back to the Pacific Northwest where he would store the case in our apartment. Once more, the view blurred, and there was Chad again, standing on a dock stretching out from a sandy beach with tropical vegetation behind it. In the first vision, he’d had a beard. Now, he was clean-shaven and a couple of years older.

Duncan stood in front of him, looking just as he did now. Again, there was gesticulating. The vision didn’t offer any words, any hint about what their conversation was, but if Duncan had told the truth, they were discussing him going to get the case.

I sensed that satisfaction again. From Duncan? No, it seemed to come from the case. Maybe all this was from the vision itself. Which originated… Where? In the cave? The paw print drawings? The magic that a powerful werewolf had infused in this area generations ago?

The last vision I received was of Duncan sailing out of the tropics. Toward the Pacific Northwest and the same place where the case had been stored. And not far from where Mom’s wolf medallion existed.

Though no words ever floated into my mind during the vision, the magic somehow conveyed the idea that the bringing togetherof the artifacts had been orchestrated. By whom? The power of the moon? Of destiny? I hoped not the weirdos in the potion factory.

Blackness replaced the visions, and I slept.

What seemed like seconds later but might have been hours, I woke to night’s embrace, the cloudy sky visible overhead, though dark branches largely blocked it. My head should have hurt—I remembered hitting it—and I was aware of a swollen lump, but it didn’t bother me. After the visions, or whatever those had been, I felt…good. As if that magic had infused me with health and vigor. Since it had also tossed me on my ass, I couldn’t be entirely grateful.

I’d been knocked out inside the cave though. How had I gotten out in the gully? Since I was lying on my back, there should have been cold rocks or damp earth underneath me, but I felt the warmth of someone else pressed against me. Duncan, I sensed, his scent and his aura comfortable.

He’d returned to his human form, sitting with me lying half in his lap, his arms around me, his back to a boulder. When I shifted a hand to touch his arm, I found him clothed. Since he’d been in his wolf form when I’d been… Whathadhappened to me? Some kind of mental overload that had knocked me out? And for how long? It was still night, but that didn’t mean much. This time of year, twelve hours could have passed, and it would remain dark.

“You’re not naked,” I mumbled, my mouth dry.

I had a feeling I’d been out for a lot longer than a few minutes. The memory of the visions remained, sharper and more permanent than dreams.

“If that’s disappointment in your voice, perhaps I erred in fetching my clothing before returning to protect you.”

“Is that what you’re doing now?”

“It is.”

“I feel cuddled.” I couldn’t complain. Being in his arms wasbetter than being sprawled askew on the rocky cave floor or lying in a bed of dew-damp ferns.

“A good man knows how to protectandgently cuddle his lady.”

“That must be why my mother kept suggesting you as a mate.”

“You think so? She seemed overly concerned with the power of magic within me and if I’d pass it on to any children we might have.”

His voice was light, and he didn’t sound put off, but I couldn’t tell for sure. The words made me wonder if Mom’s idea of using him for breeding stock had offended him. It would have offendedme.

“She noticed your abs too,” I said, hoping to keep the conversation light.

“That was more alarming than flattering.”

“Are you speaking the truth, Duncan Calderwood? Something tells me you’d find being ogled even by octogenarians flattering.”

“Hm.”

“I thought so.”

“I’d prefer being ogled by you and would be happy to make my bulletproof abs available for the purpose. Unfortunately, you were unconscious when I shifted back into my naked human form.”

“Something more pressing occupied me.”

“Yeah.” He brushed a lock of hair away from my forehead. “Are you well? I didn’t get there in time to catch you when you fell, and you cracked your skull on a boulder. I didn’texpectyou to fall after touching a rock.”

“It was startling to me too.” I reached up, touched the lump, and found it tender, even if it wasn’t giving me the splitting headache it probably should have.

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