Page 4 of Collar Me Crazy
Seven mated pairs. Ryker had watched each couple find each other over the past few years, had seen how their bonds strengthened not just themselves but the entire community. Part of him envied what they'd found. Most of him was grateful to stay on the outside, where his presence couldn't complicate anyone else's life.
"I haven't noticed anything specific," he said, though that wasn't entirely true. "Want me to keep an eye out?"
"Always. And Ryker? If anything feels... significant, don't hesitate to call."
Significant. Like dreams about ebony hair and warm brown eyes. Like a restlessness that had his wolf prowling in circles all day.
"Will do."
After Varric hung up, Ryker stood on his porch, breathing in the night air. The sanctuary settled around him with familiar sounds, the hoot of an owl, the rustle of small creatures in the underbrush, the distant splash of something surfacing in the lake.
But underneath it all, he felt it. The pull, the certainty that something important was coming his way. Something that would change everything, whether he wanted it to or not.
He thought about the messenger hawk's words. Council business, disturbances, the ever-present reminder that the supernatural world was larger and more dangerous than their protected corner of it.
He thought about Maple's cryptic warning. Change that chooses its own path.
Most of all, he thought about the dreams. The woman with dark hair who looked at him like she knew secrets he'd forgotten.The feeling of recognition so strong it left him aching when he woke.
"Whatever you are," he said to the night wind, "I'm not ready."
But readiness, he'd learned, rarely had anything to do with destiny.
The forest whispered back, carrying scents of woodsmoke and magic and something new. Something that made his wolf lift its head and howl silently at the moon.
Something that was already here.
3
SONYA
The Hollow Oak Book Nook sat nestled between two larger buildings like a literary secret waiting to be discovered. Warm light spilled from its windows, and the wooden sign above the door bore intricate carvings that seemed to shift when Sonya wasn't looking directly at them. She pushed inside, breathing in the familiar scent of old paper and binding glue mixed with something distinctly magical.
"Sonya?"
The voice made her turn toward the back corner where reading nooks created intimate spaces among towering bookshelves. A woman with loose mahogany curls looked up from a tablet computer, her milky brown eyes widening with recognition and delight.
"Moira!" Sonya weaved between the stacks, dodging a ladder that appeared to be restocking shelves on its own. "God, look at you. Marriage agrees with you."
Moira stood and pulled her into a fierce hug, and Sonya felt some of her travel tension ease. Family, even distant family, had a way of grounding her that no amount of meditation ever managed.
"I can't believe you're actually here," Moira said, pulling back to study her face. "When I got your text saying you might visit, I wasn't sure you'd actually make the drive."
"Well, when my visions start getting pushy, I've learned to listen." Sonya glanced around the cozy shop, noting the way shadows gathered in corners that should have been well-lit. "This place is amazing. Very you."
"It's Lucien's, actually." Moira gestured toward the front counter where a man was helping an elderly customer. Even from a distance, Sonya could see the predatory grace in his movements, the way he carried himself like something that had never forgotten how to hunt. "Lucien, come meet my cousin."
The panther shifter approached with liquid steps, and Sonya found herself studying the angular features Moira had described in her letters. Dark hair fell to his shoulders, and his deep green eyes held the kind of ancient knowledge that came from too many nights spent hunting things that went bump.
"Sonya Sibyl," he said, extending a hand. "Moira's told me a lot about you."
"All good things, I hope." His grip was firm but careful, and she caught the faint scent of night air and old books that clung to him. "Thank you for making her so happy. I haven't seen her smile like this in years."
"The happiness is mutual." Lucien's voice carried undertones of satisfaction that made Moira blush. "Can I get you anything? Coffee? We've got some new arrivals in the paranormal romance section if you're interested."
"Actually, I was hoping to talk to Moira about why I'm here." Sonya settled into one of the reading chairs, accepting the cup of coffee that appeared at her elbow courtesy of what looked like helpful magic. "My visions have been... persistent lately."
Moira perched on the arm of Lucien's chair, their easy intimacy making something ache with longing in Sonya's chest. "What kind of visions?"
