Page 9 of Snow's Charming
“Look—there’s no easy way to ease you into this, so I’m just going to rip the Band-Aid off—is that okay?”
After all The Crypt Keeper bullshit from this evening, I needed straightforward answers, and I needed to hear him out.
“Yes. You can rip the Band-Aid off. I want to know what is going on. And especially why it seems so easy for you to read my mind.”
I didn’t mean to admit my fears to him, but my inner goddess kept cheering me on to do so.
“Have you ever watched a paranormal show or read a book specifically about shifters? Wolves maybe?”
“What? Like werewolves?”
I bit my lip. It was a nervous habit of mine. My cheeks heated as his eyes instantly darkened and darted to my lips. My eyes shot to the ground. I couldn’t handle the hunger he was giving off. Not right now, at least. Unfortunately, my mouth went bone dry and my tongue darted out to lick my lips of its own volition.
Fuck.
“What does a myth have to do with anything?”
I crossed my arms as I asked to make sure I was hiding my chest. I so yearned to be pressed up against him right now, and I needed that shield.
Why’d this guy have so much power over me?
“It’s no myth. Werewolves are a real thing.”
I threw my head back and laughed.
“Yeah right. Shifters are not real.”
As I said it, my insides heated and twisted. It was as if someone was stabbing me at each connection to a bone. Suddenly, Sylus’s protective hand was on my back and rubbing soothing circles. The excessive heart rate from the anxiety overwhelming me, and from the pain I was experiencing, subsided slightly from his touch. Yeah, this guy affected me, for sure. And that scared me.
“You are going to be fine, my love.”
Love?
What the fuck?
I wanted to protest his pet name, but I couldn’t speak. The pain was excruciating once he moved his hand away from me. Why did he do that? I need his touch! It seemed each bone in my body was breaking all at once.
I’d broken my arm once, so I knew the pain well, but this was over 200 times worse. 206 to be exact!
I peered down at my hands and claws appeared as my nail beds vanished. Silvery-white fur grew over my arms and then my knees gave out, forcing me to the ground on all fours. The wooded area we were in seemed to transform before me. Every blade of grass, tree, and rock appeared sharper, crisper, and more surreal in my view.
“Sesi, love, can you hear me?”
Sylus’s voice seemed more internal than external to my ears, and I wasn’t sure why. I nodded my head in response.
“Good, love. Very good. Do you still hurt?”
This time, I shook my head.
“Awesome! Now, baby, can you try to shift back into your human form? I promise it won’t hurt this time. Only your first time shifting into your wolf hurts.”
I wasn’t sure about anything he was telling me. I mean, sure, we were talking about werewolves moments ago—but to turn into one? All of this was bizarre, but now believable. I certainly wasn’t dreaming any of this up. Still? How could I turn back into a human?
A memory of a movie came to me where the guy thought of his human half and he instantly transformed back into his mortal self. That was worth a shot—right? So I thought of my reflection in a mirror, and poof—I was human again! But crap! I was very, very naked. That’s a little embarrassing.
Sylus turned to a lounger chair and reached for the blanket over the chair. He placed it around me and scooped me up into his arms. My hands instinctively wrapped around his neck.
“Come on. Let’s get you inside and get you clothed. You can borrow a tee shirt and sweatpants from me for tonight. Tomorrow I will take you shopping, my princess.”
