by Harris, Noah
And progress had been made—the Children had finally learned how to work with one another. Of course, they weren’t the best of friends but they weren’t starting fights with one another either. The uneasy truce was slowly easing into a type of acceptance, and Kell had spotted hints that some parts of each faction were making tentative gestures of solicitude to one another.
It would take years before they were ready to be true allies, yet it was more progress than had been made in the generations before. Kell was the catalyst behind the alliance but he knew the Vigil would be the binding factor. They were still out there, hoping to find Kell, to wipe him out before he was capable of helping the other Children survive the war. Kell knew the day when he would have to face them again was coming. He was glad to put it off for a little while longer.
There had still been no progress made on the explanation behind the Vigil prisoners’ deaths. The reports attached to the incident were still locked up tight, leaving their fates a mystery. Kell hadn’t liked that any more than Johnny had liked being unable to find Ash.
After Johnny had been accepted back with the witches, he’d begun to find hints of his childhood friend’s whereabouts. The search had turned up nothing of value, save that everyone was confident Ash was alive and well somewhere in the world. Kell knew his lover wanted to reconnect with the friend he’d lost to circumstance many years ago and had been pushing Alyssa privately to find him. She’d vowed to do what she could, but Kell had the feeling she was just trying to assuage him temporarily.
Footsteps from behind jarred him out of his thoughts and he peered straight up to find Johnny standing over him. Kell smiled, appreciating the warmth in Johnny’s features and the lack of heaviness to his shoulders. The past couple of months had been tense at times, but they’d always been therapeutic for the both of them.
“I think the fireflies have danced. Now you’re just stalling,” Johnny said.
Kell stood up with a laugh. “Sorry, I’ve been out here daydreaming, totally forgot I was supposed to be playing host.”
“Yes, and you left me to fend off Alyssa, which as you know requires more than just me,” Johnny told him.
Kell glanced at the doorway. “And you left her unsupervised?”
“I asked Apollo if he would be so kind as to guard the kitchen while I went to fetch you. I would have asked Artemis, but she seems the sort to help Alyssa while taking a share of her own in the process,” Johnny said grumpily.
Kell stood on his tiptoes, wrapping his arms around Johnny’s neck as he kissed him. “Anyone ever tell you how adorable you look when you get crabby?”
“Usually you or Alyssa, when one or both of you have been testing my patience,” Johnny said, his serious air ruined by the quirking at the corner of his mouth.
Kell breathed in his comforting scent. “It’s not my fault you’re so easy to tease.”
Johnny’s pupils widened as he realized Kell was scenting him. “Don’t start that—we have guests.”
Kell huffed, hearing the sentiment echoed by his inner wolf. “I can’t help myself.”
Johnny bent down to kiss Kell again, playfully nibbling his bottom lip. “You can, and if you do, I’ll let you misbehave after everyone leaves.”
Kell’s eyes lit up as he followed after Johnny. “Promise?”
“Promise,” Johnny said, laughing as he dragged Kell behind him into the house.
With the sound of life in the house washing over him and Johnny’s promise hanging in his mind, Kell forgot all about his worries. There were still mysteries to be solved and problems to be faced. But his time with Johnny had taught him the value of living in the present, and he was going to soak up all the light and happiness he could.
Everything else could wait, for now.
About the Author
Dear reader,
I hope you enjoyed The Wizard Wolf.
First off, allow me to say how incredible you are for supporting this small genre! Open-minded readers like you are special. You may be gay, bi, or straight, but you have good taste in books, and I love knowing you’re out there. I’d love to stay in touch, if you’d like you can join my Facebook group: Noah’s Pack it's a closed (private) community where we can discuss all things gay shifters without anyone else being able to see!
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