Page 58 of The Witch's Shifter
“So... I don’t know.” His hand clenches, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “So...rigid.”
Now I look at the couples more critically, and I see what he means. The men and women are lined up across from each other in two straight rows, looking giddy and excited for the first dance to begin. He probably doesn’t know any of the village dances, which are popular here and in other cities, like Wysteria. Having lived in the Emberstone Mountains all his life, I can’t imagine he’s up-to-date on his reels and jigs.
“We will dance on our own, then,” I announce, squeezing his hand in mine.
Faolan glances down at me. “Are you sure?”
Instead of answering, I tug him toward the far end of the square, where we can dance freely without getting in anyone’s way. The firelight still reaches us here, but just barely, sending dark shadows cutting across Faolan’s face. He looks a bit otherworldly in this light, and I know if he were to grin or snarl, his sharp canines would reveal themselves, white as snow against his umber skin.
The musicians start to play, and my heart patters in time to the drum.
Right now, I couldn’t care less about dancing with the other couples; all I want is to dance withhim.
One of Faolan’s hands slips around my waist, and he lifts the other high. Despite the lively rhythm and the clapping of the gathered onlookers, he moves me slowly, as if to a melody only he can hear—a melody of wind through the pines, of the whisper of paws through deep forest grass. He twirls me once, making my skirt lift around my calves, then guides me back in. This time, I step in close, and he tenses up for a second as I press my ear against his firm chest.
“Where were you?” I whisper. “Why did you go away?”
With his hearing, I’m certain he’ll have no trouble discerning my quiet words.
Beneath my ear, his chest rises and falls with a sigh. “The woods. I needed... time.” There’s a pause, then another sigh. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left like that. I should have spoken to you, told you what was going on.”
I pull back just enough to look into his eyes. They look troubled.
“You don’t have to be sorry.” I squeeze his hand in mine. “I’m the one who should’ve been more considerate.”
Glancing over my shoulder, I find my family gathered at the edge of the square. Wyland has his arm over Selene’s shoulders, and Rowan looks to be trying to convince my mother to join the dance, but she stands firm as a statue, arms crossed resolutely over her chest. Alden is there as well, sipping on his ale, cheeks flushed and dark eyes shining.
“This all must be incredibly overwhelming,” I continue. “It was thoughtless of me to try to drag you into it all.” Now I’m the one to sigh. “Please forgive me.”
There’s a gentle vibration from deep in Faolan’s chest, and when I look up, I see that he’s laughing. “You are much too good for me,” he says, but his voice is lighter now, and the look of worry creasing his brow smooths out until it’s no longer visible.
He twirls me again, making me giggle, and this time when he pulls me in, he bends low to press his lips to mine.
And I swear I can still taste the forest on them.
My hands creep into his long hair as his arms loop around my waist. I deepen our kiss, digging my fingers into the back of his neck.
His sudden absence left a hollow spot in my chest, a gap even Alden and Rowan couldn’t fill. And it made me realize how badly I want him around, how I want to be part of his life, and how I want him to be part of mine.
Maybe I’m ready to be his, whatever that might mean. Ready to be hismate.
Gently, like a caress, I draw my tongue over Faolan’s bottom lip. He growls against my mouth, arms tightening about me.
“Unless you’d like me to take you right here,” he whispers, “we’d better stop.”
Heat pulses between my thighs, and I can scarcely control the desire sweeping through me. But he’s right; now is certainly not the time, nor is it the place.
Perhaps when we get home later . . .
A round of applause goes up around us, and I step back from Faolan, hoping the distance will help me get my head straight. His gaze slides over me, to where my family is assembled, and he seems to steel himself. His hands curl into tight fists.
“I think I’m ready to meet your mother now.”
My eyebrows rise. “Are you sure? You don’t need to, truly.” When I laugh, it comes out sounding more nervous than I intended. For some reason, I’m uneasy about him meeting her, like she might say something that’ll send him running into the woods again. “She can be a bit—”
“I’m sure.” He straightens his shoulders, looking as sturdy and immovable as the Emberstone Mountains themselves.
I swallow hard, and the heat between my legs turns cold immediately. “All right.”
