Page 106 of The Wolf and the Chimera
“Sorry,” Elle mumbled and blinked frantically against sleep’s hold. “What were you saying?”
At the reminder of her exhaustion, all that need and wanting abated. I smiled and kissed her hand.
“I was only going to tell you to get some sleep,” I lied.
Chapter Thirty
Elle
Early the next morning, dawn bathed Circe’s library in shades of gold through the tall windows. In the corner of the library, in the comfort of a plush leather chair, I studied the textbook I had been assigned yesterday with far more success. Though my chimera still loathed to be away from Ryder, now that we were one, I could actually focus.
Footsteps pattered across the hardwood floors, and amid the musty scent of books and ink, notes of cinnamon and clove emerged. Wearing a cream-colored tunic and with her pink hair in a messy ponytail, Melanie approached.
She yawned. “What are you doing up so early?”
“Mel,” I said. After hours of reading alone, my voice cracked from disuse. I cleared my throat. “You won’t believe what’s in this book.”
“What I can’t believe,” she countered, “is how loudly Bo snores. I’m considering asking Circe for noise-canceling headphones.”
I rolled my eyes. “Did you know chimeras carry the memories of their ancestors and can access them if they know where to look?”
“Nifty,” Melanie said but frowned. “I wonder why werewolves can’t.”
“I don’t know,” I replied. “Maybe I’ll find out if I keep reading.”
Melanie grunted. I returned my attention to the book,but the she-wolf continued studying me. When I looked up, she averted her gaze quickly, but not before I caught her staring at my neck.
“What?” I asked. I softened my tone. “Did you come here to tell me something? Sorry if I brushed you off.”
“No, no,” she promised. Her expression turned sheepish. “It’s not that.”
She turned to leave, but I called after her.
“Melanie,” I said, “what is it? You can tell me.”
She faced me. “It’s really not my business. I was just sure that after you settled things with your chimera…look, it doesn’t matter.”
“I’ve never seen you fail to cross a boundary,” I said drily, “whatever it is, just say it.”
She cursed under her breath. “Why haven’t you guys done the claiming?”
I balked, and Melanie misunderstood my silence.
“I know it’s not my business,” she said again, “but given everything, I just don’t know why you two haven’t done it.”
She came closer and clutched my hands in hers. I had never seen her so serious.
“If it’s because Ryder’s going to be Sovereign, and you’re a chimera,” she whispered, “that wouldn’t matter to me or Kieran or Bo. As soon as everyone gets a chance to know you, it won’t matter to anyone.”
I hadn’t even considered what the long-term repercussions were for what I was and who Ryder was, but gazing into Mel’s blue eyes, I swallowed the lump in my throat. The longer her words settled in, however, the more confused I became.
“Why would I have a ceremony in the middle of the night?” I asked.
Melanie laughed.
“Elle, plenty of mated couples don’t wait for the ceremony. Lots of them don’t even last ten minutes.” She sobered. “But if you want one, we can throw one for you here!”
When I didn’t match her enthusiasm, Melanie’s cheer fizzled out. My face heated, but I forced the words out.
