Page 14 of The Witch's Shifter
“What does this mean?” I ask by way of distracting him. It works, thankfully. He sits back, easing himself into the cushions. The couch looks so tiny beneath him.
“How much do you know?” he asks. His voice is softer now, not so sharp. This is why I needed Rowan to give us a bit of space.
“The basics. Only what we were taught at Coven Crest.”
“Coven Crest?” He arches a thick black eyebrow.
“An academy for witches and warlocks.”
His lips quirk into a smirk. “I didn’t know there was such a thing. And what did they teach you about us?”
I take a moment to dig the lessons out of my brain. “That you’re born this way.” I gesture to him as the fire dances in the hearth. “That the first shift usually happens around fifteen. That it can take many years for a shifter to control the transformation. The basics.”
“And what of the mate bond?” His voice dips low. “Did they teach you of that?”
When he says it, the wordmate, my heart patters, and for some reason, my cheeks get a touch warm. “I know it’s instinctual. And you can’t change it, even if you wish to. But I thought...” I glance down into my lap. “I thought it only happened between your kind.”
“Usually. But I’ve heard stories.” The couch cushion shifts. Then Faolan is reaching toward me, snagging a lock of my hair and twisting it around his forefinger. The contact makes me catch my breath. “Never about a witch though. This is a first even for me.”
“Are you...” I swallow, trying to stay focused as he keeps spiraling my hair around his finger. “Are you sure about this? Is it possible you’ve got it wrong?”
Before I can move, he leans forward, and my body goes rigid as his nose brushes the column of my throat. Breathing in deep, he traces my neck up to the shell of my ear. The gentle touch sends tingles through my body and down low into my belly.
I’m so glad Rowan isn’t standing in the doorway right now. If he saw this, I’m sure his sword would be about an inch away from impaling Faolan’s heart.
“Your scent...” He pulls back just far enough that I can see his elongated canines poking out from beneath his lips. “It’s the most enticing thing I’ve ever smelled. Like it was made for me. Likeyouwere made for me.”
His words make heat flood my veins. When I break eye contact and glance down, I find Faolan’s borrowed trousers pulled tight, his length straining against the material.
“I’ve made no mistake,” he says slowly. “You’re my mate.” There’s a finality to it, and though he’s still a stranger, I believe him.
But I still don’t know what I’m going to do about it.
Someone clears their throat loudly behind me.
I scoot away from Faolan at the same time he lets out a rumbling growl, his focus shifting to something over my shoulder.
“You’re interrupting, knight.” The sharp edge has returned to his voice.
“And you’re a guest here, wolf. So watch yourself.” Rowan’s sharp-eyed gaze flicks to me briefly when I turn to look at him. “Are you all right?”
I nod and give him a small smile. “I’m fine.”
Something changes in the air then. When I turn back to Faolan, he’s wearing an expression of confusion. As Alden steps into the doorway behind Rowan, broad arms crossed over his chest, the confusion turns to anger.
“Wait,” he says, voice low. “Are you...?” His blue eyes find mine, swirling with something I don’t quite understand. “Are you mated to these men?”
His choice of words makes my cheeks flush warmer than a moment ago. “Well, I’m not sure I’d say we’remated, but—”
Faolan leaps to his feet, knocking the low table away so forcefully that he spills the cup of tea I just brewed for him. I let out an involuntary gasp at the sudden crash and jolt back on the couch.
“They’vetouched you?” His eyes are blazing blue fire.
“I’ve done more than that,” Rowan says as he steps into the room. His gaze flicks to my stomach, and Faolan’s follows.
He sniffs the air again. “You’re . . . ?”
This time when Faolan meets my stare, he looks crushed, anguished. And though I only just learned his name, only just learned what his voice sounds like, it physically hurts to see him in such pain.
