Page 49 of Luna Cursed

The message bubble danced.I'll be your backup as soon as you need it. And I'm pretty sure you are mating. You just don't want to admit it. I don't blame you for staking your claim. Tor is still one of the hottest guys I've ever seen and way too good for you.

Ciara's eyes narrowed. She knew better than to bite at Lachie's teasing, and it didn't help he had pressed on the insecurity she felt the keenest.

How's Apollo? Have you apologized and made up yet? You know he'll never let it go until you say sorry. Life is too short to have an alchemist angry at you. Your life is dangerous enough.

Enjoy your trip. Try not to get stuck in any caves and die while you're there.

Ciara snorted. Just as she thought. Lachie was one of the bravest hunters she had ever seen, but he was so stubborn when he felt he was right. She looked up to see Alruna and Tor waiting for her.

"Sorry. Lachie. I'm trying to get better at letting the family know where I'm going becausesomeonehas been yelling at me non-stop about it," Ciara said, shooting Tor a wink.

"Gods below, did the lectures actually sink in? I can't actually believe it," Tor replied, aghast.

Alruna laughed at them. "I don't have all day, you two. Am I opening this portal or not?"

Tor took Ciara's hand. "Now we are ready."

She turned bright red but didn't shake him off. His hand was warm and rough, and hers fit into it like it was made for him.

Alruna's portal opened near a road, and with final goodbyes, Ciara and Tor stepped through it and into soft spring rain. Ciara flipped the collar up on her leather jacket to stop another shirt from getting wrecked, and they headed into town.

Apart from the rain, it was a pretty place with a fjord and mountains that made Ciara's breath catch.

"What are you thinking?" Tor asked, hanging onto her hand.

"That I'd really like to see Scandinavia properly without all of the portaling and running for my life," she replied. She let out a huff of laughter. "Maybe Layla was right, and I have been working too hard."

"Hang around after we stop Varg, and I can be a tour guide."

It was an offer she would've liked to accept outright, but she still held back. "You don't think you're going to be sick of me by then?" Tor smiled and gave her a look that had her toes curling in her boots.

"I doubt it, bunny."

Ciara bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling and did her best to quieten down all the voices in her head that told her that he wouldn't want her unless she turned into a wolf, that she was too difficult to love because of her spiky personality.

Ciara wouldn't miraculously stop being who she was because she was getting laid. It just wasn't in her nature to be soft and loving like women were always told they should be. She was who she was, and she liked that person. Spiky outer shell and all. If Tor didn't, she would find a way to deal with it when the time came.

Tor stopped walking and kissed her hard. Ciara gripped the collar of his jacket and pulled him closer. It didn't matter that they were getting completely soaked. All that mattered was the heat between them, the bond tugging them tighter together.

"What was that for?" Ciara asked breathlessly.

Tor kissed her forehead. "You were getting too much in your own head, and your energy was changing. I had to change it back before you spiraled."

"I…" Ciara stammered. Well, shit. "I'm never going to be able to hide anything from you, will I?"

"Try not to sound so glum about it. You need someone looking out for you," Tor replied like it was the simplest thing in the world.

"I can take care of myself," she grumbled.

"I know, but you don't always have to. Don't worry. You'll get used to it."

There really was no arguing with Tor when he made his mind up about something. They were stubborn as each other.

It didn't take them long to get to the central part of the town and to find a rental car dealership. Tor was taking care of the arrangements and talking way too fast in Norwegian with the salesperson for Ciara to pick up any words she might know.

Tor was frowning when he walked back over to her with the keys to a Jeep.

"What's wrong?" Ciara asked.

---