Page 153 of Sigils & Spells

Becca’s eyes widened. “Are you okay, Jared?”

“Do you know who they’re here to visit?” Corwin asked.

She shrugged. “Not a clue. I didn’t think to ask.”

Jared didn’t hear the rest of the conversation because he was too busy hurtling down the stairs toward the front door.

*.*.*.*.*

Pippa,Jo and Annika, who had slid seamlessly into the rhythm of their household, were carrying food from the kitchen to the dining room, and the rest of the Coven was filtering in to sit down for dinner, when there came a knock at the front door.

“I’ll get it.” Tempest, who had just entered the dining room, spun around and left again.

A moment later, they heard the door open and a voice growl, “Where is she?”

Seconds after that, Tempest appeared in the doorway with Jared at her side.

Pippa’s jaw dropped. “What are you doing here?”

He strode toward her, grabbed the platter of garlic bread from her and set it on the table, then cupped her face in his hands and kissed her breathless.

For one moment, Pippa was frozen in shock, then she was clutching his shoulders and kissing him back.

Heat blasted through her and sparks winged across the room, catching the drapes on fire.

“Shit!” Morana yelped.

Everyone scrambled around her, but Pippa was entirely consumed by the wolf currently sending her up in flames.

“Jared,” she gasped, trying desperately to get closer.

He pulled back, settled his forehead against hers and stared into her eyes. “Pippa,” he growled, the wolf so close she could see him peering out at her from Jared’s eyes.

Her heart pounded in her chest so fast, she thought she might collapse from anxiety and fear and hope.

It couldn’t be.

“Pippa,” he growled again. “No more cougars.”

She shook her head. “What?”

“You’re mine. My mate, not theirs. No more cougars.”

The breath caught in her throat as the room spun around her. “I’m your mate?” she whispered.

“Of course, you are.”

“Are you sure? How do you know? Maybe you’re just confused.”

He reared back and glared at her. “Mine,” he snarled, the wolf pressing so hard against his skin she could feel his claws pricking her at the waist and base of her neck.

“Okay,” she murmured, “you’re sure.”

Shewasn’t though.

She wasn’t.

She stared into his eyes and saw so much raw passion and possession staring back.

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