His eyes still narrowed and on my face he said, “Then I probably should bond with you.”
Huh? “Bond with me?”
“It’s an old tradition, older than mating and rarely done anymore. It binds the life forces. I would die if you did.”
Ah. Wow. Cool. Creepy. And risky. “And you say that because you think I have a death wish.”
He shook his head. “No, because I know you have a distinct tendency for dying a highly questionable heroic death.”
“Hey, first of all I never did die. Well, the last times, I mean. And second of all, I’m giving you an out here.”
He snorted. “What on earth makes you think I’d need an out? Because you think with your aunt now out and about you’ve become too high-maintenance? Well, guess what, I already figured as much - before she stepped into the picture.”
Oh, that ass. Before I could even fire back at him he went on, “Saving your ass has already become my main occupation, so why stop now? Besides, it’s a nice ass.” And then he winked at me before his mouth split into the most beautiful, sexiest smile I had ever seen.
Well, if that wasn’t the best I-don’t-give-a-shit-about-the-mad-goddess-and-all-your-crap. All thought and protest slipped away as I went all gooey inside. Leaning forward I kissed him softly, tenderly. Expelling a long breath I leaned my forehead against his before laughing. God, when had he become such a rock for me? For one second there was a jittery flutter in my stomach and I thought about pulling away, but then I realized that it felt good to be so close, it felt right. “Jesus, what a week.”
“Yeah, tell me about it. It never gets boring around here.”
A memory surfaced, or a dream, I wasn’t exactly sure which and so I asked, “Was there a man? At the end, when I fought my father?”
“There was. Don’t know who he was. Didn’t give a damn as soon as it was clear that he wouldn’t attack us. But your father had to listen to him and Morgan seemed…uncomfortable. And royally pissed but she didn’t make a sound of protest.”
I furrowed my brow as I remembered the seven year restriction around the Wild Hunt, a restriction that wasn’t Morgan’s doing and one she had to follow.
“So maybe we’ve got another player in the game, a scary one if I might add. Nice. As if we don’t have enough on our plate already, what with the war to look forward to, a rebellion in the undead midst brewing. Oh, and the Turn will hit in a couple of days. Anything else on next week’s agenda?”
He pulled away and his grinning blue eyes tugged at me. Uh oh. There was that smile again, that arrogant, commanding smile. The one that often ended with me being pissed. “Yeah, you will go out with me.”
“Say what?”
He stood, that smug smirk on his face only begging for my fist. “You heard me. And be glad it’s only a date and not the bonding thing. Saturday, I will pick you up at seven. You think you can manage to stay alive that long?”
I couldn’t answer, what with my jaw having dropped to the floor and all that.
A hand on the door knob he turned around and the sinful twinkle in his eyes made me shiver, my body flashing hot and cold. “Wear the gray dress.” So I can take it off you.
Finally I found my voice back, though it was a little husky as I remarked, “You know, they call it asking someone out on a date for a reason. Besides, you heard the doctor, bed rest for me.”
His laugh was deep and hot and wicked. “Oh, you can rest, and you probably will have to. After.”
He went out and closed the door behind him, my airborne pillow bouncing off it.
***
About the Author
Natalie Herzer is a twenty-five year old, native-born German living in France and writing books in English. Much like her travel bug, the love for words has always been there, and after "rewriting" some books in her head she finally decided to give it a shot and to write her own.
She is the author of The Patroness, an urban-fantasy series, and Snapshots, a collection of short stories.
For news, sample chapters and more, visit n-herzer.blogspot.com.
The Hunt is On (The Patroness) Page 21
