Page 51 of Watch Me Burn

Now that he’s publicly claimed me? Either he’s lying his tail off to James in some misguided way of cockblocking me, or he’s been keeping something pretty freaking huge from me. Whatever it is, we need to talk.

Reaching out, I snag his hand. For a shifter with immaculate reflexes, he seems stunned when I do, and too slow to stop me. He must’ve let me do it, just like he doesn’t resist at all as I tug on his hand, pulling him away from the center of the village.

The cottage I share with Elise is closer than Conall’s. I don’t go inside in case Elise returned while I was distracted. Instead, I keep on pulling Conall’s hand until we’re standing in the gap between the back of the cottage and the woods behind us.

There’s a large rock back there. I keep marching until we reach it, then finally release his hand.

His fingers flex as though he wants to reach for mine again. He doesn’t, though, and that just confuses me even more.

That confusion turns my tone sharp as I point at Conall’s chest and say, “Explain.”

“Bridget—”

Oh, boy. Whenever he uses my name instead of calling me ‘Red’, I know he’s serious.

I cut him off just in case he’s about to say something I don’t want to hear. “Okay. Mayne I need to clarify what I mean. I was talking to James. You lost your shit. In front of everyone, you told me that I’m your fated mate. Is that true?”

He sucks in a breath.

“Conall. Before you say anything, remember that I can’t tell when you’re lying,” I remind him.

His eyes flash. “I would never lie to you.”

I’m glad to hear it.

In that case, I wait.

There’s that muscle ticking in his jaw again. Sometimes on our way back out of the caves, I make it my mission to see how often I can make him do that. Without even trying, I just did.

“Yes,” he says at last. “It’s true. But this isn’t how I wanted you to find out.”

Obviously.

“Why?” I ask. “Why didn’t you just tell me yourself already?”

“Because you don’t want to be here, Red. In Alaska. In Dyea. With me.”

I should be glad he slipped back into using his nickname for me. But when I think about what else he said… “What? Why do you think that?”

Conall blows a rush of air out through his nose. “From the moment I first saw you, I knew. But I also believed you were human, and that I would scare you out of Dyea if you knew you were fated to be mine. I tried my best to court you the only way I knew how.”

“The conditioner,” I murmur.

He nods. “And meat. I’m a provider. My wolf was insisting that I needed to feed you. To protect you. And when you snuck out of the village the first time, I had to follow you.

“Of course, that’s when I learned that you’re not a human. Not really. You’re a witch, and you gave me the perfect chance to get close to you. You needed a guide in the caves. I was desperate to keep you safe. I would’ve followed you anywhere, Red, and I still will. But you… you want the crystal to find a way back to your old life.” His cheeks hollow, showing off the stubble on his jaw. “And I wasn’t a part of your old life.”

No. He wasn’t. But he’s part of it now, and no matter what happens… if I find the fire opal… if I give up my magic… if the witch hunters find me… I feel better knowing that Conall is in my life.

However, before I can tell him that, he tells me, “I understand that. You don’t trust me. Like you said, you don’t really know me. But I’m a wolf shifter. My instincts are to protect my mate and give her everything she wants, no matter if it means she’ll leave me instead of bonding to me.”

Conall glances away. “I’ve been exploring the caves at night. After everyone is asleep and I’ve reinforced my territorial markings, I’ve searched different caverns. You think I’m not doing what I can to find that crystal. If it made you smile, Red, I’d dig until my claws were fucking bloody to mine it for you.”

My heart feels like it’s being squeezed. “Conall?—”

He’s not done.

“I love you. With the beginning of the mate bond forming as soon as I knew you were mine, it was easy. You’re stubborn. Reckless. You talk a lot, but your voice makes me happy, even when you call me ‘Mr. Grump’. Your scent lights my soul on fire. Your loyalty to your friend is impressive, and I only wish I could earn it for myself. I thought I could, but then James thought he could claim you, and I couldn’t… Red, I just couldn’t. You’re mine. Even if you never agree, I need you to know it.”

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