Page 190 of The Lands Defying
I don’t think she will come to me willingly, but I need to go to her.
“My Vihnarn sleeps within you, I imagine?” I say, taking another step. “And while she sleeps, we can sort out our differences.” Another step. “Rhea’s life has been at stake while you have refused to come out, I’m angry at you for putting her at risk, at your stubbornness, though I know it comes from a place of pain.” Another. “And you loathe me for what I did to your keeper. I understand that, and I accept it.” I keep going, guiding her back into a tree. She yelps in surprise, emotion filling her eyes as they lock with mine, still growling.
Two more steps and I’m so close I can almost touch her. She comes up to my head in height whereas Drax comes above. That means she can have the advantage with him and go for his neck when he gets to be too much.
Drax growls like I betrayed him, but he can’t pretend he wouldn’t want her to.
Runa continues her growls and snarls as I watch on, showing her I won’t retaliate. That I won’t harm her.
She snarls violently and lunges when I take the last step, biting the top of my arm and still, I don’t move. I feel her teeth tear into me, feel the blood now dripping down my arm and onto the ground as I grunt in pain.
I have to smirk though.
“Just like your keeper, she likes to bite too.” I tilt my head. “She would be proud of you for that,” I tell her, feeling the blood dripping from my fingertips as it runs down my arm.
She pauses in her biting before she takes a few steps back, realizing I’m not going to do anything to her for hurting me.
I take a breath before I crouch again as I ready myself for what I am about to do. She watches me curiously, looking down at the snow-covered ground that’s slowly turning red.
“You know, I have never done this to anyone, not even your keeper.” I eye her. “Though I willingly let my Vihnarn put her teeth in me, encourage it, even.” I chuckle at the reminder. “I would do this for your keeper in a heartbeat if she asked it of me, but first, I will do it for you, because I don’t think there is any other way to show you that I won’t harm you.”
After a moment’s pause, I tilt my head further to the side, baring my neck to her. The most vulnerable part. But also the part where there is a mark that claims me as Rhea’s.
“I will look after you, I vow it. She trusts me, and you can too.” She looks from me to my neck, her eyes turning curious. “I will make sure you are safe. I will be her shield, as Drax will be yours.”
Tension stretches between us, until finally she takes a step toward me. I hold my breath and wait for her, patient as I can be. Two more hesitant strides come next, and they land in front of me, her breath hitting my face.
I don’t move, don’t take my eyes off her as she eventually lowers her head to my neck.
Her cold nose touches my skin as she inhales a breath, not once, but twice. And then I hear it, the small whine in her next breath, a tremble running through her. Slowly, I bring a hand up to the side where she can see it, and I see her body shake.
“I won’t hurt you.” I move my hand toward her face when she pulls back, always where she can see it and then I’m there, touching the side of her head near the start of her jaw.
The shaking worsens as I move to behind her ear, stroking down the center of her head, and then I’m bringing the other hand up on the opposite side, slowly guiding her head down until we are forehead to forehead.
I close my eyes and feel all of her, but I also feel my little wolf deep inside, and I rub my head on hers. Runa relaxes, letting more of her weight rest on me and we just get used to each other, taking in our scents.
She accepts it. Accepts me.
“Now then, let’s go for a run, shall we?” I pull back and she licks my face, and then I let the change follow and I’m no longer male, but wolf.
She steps back in surprise, but her tail comes up, wagging a little. I shake my fur out and stretch my front legs, relishing the movement.
It’s been a long time since I have been wolf.
I won’t let Drax take over this time, this is between me and her, but when I look back at Runa, a certain glint in her eyes has me pausing.
Hmm. I tilt my head. I don’t think Rhea is asleep anymore.
She trots toward me, still a little unsteady but sure, and I let her walk around me, letting her nose sniff my fur. She comes back around to the front and looks up at me before inhaling at my neck. I let her, not caring that she could actually tear my throat out.
But like I said to Runa, I would willingly let her do it.
I draw the line at biting my tails, however. So when she goes back around me and she tries, I whip around and pounce.
She snarls as I get her on her back, playfully nipping at her as her back legs try to shove me off from my stomach. I can tell shegets frustrated when she growls low, but I just carry on nipping and hovering over her, nuzzling anywhere I can.
When her eyes meet mine, I lick the side of her face a few times, then I turn and run.
