“They didn’t appear so merry, and I do not trust them, Lilith. Every instinct inside me says we should push on.”
“And go where?” She tossed up her hands. “There is nothing but woods for miles in any direction. We have no choice. I need sleep, as I’m sure you do. You’re worrying too much.”
“And you do not worry enough.”
Plopping her hands on her hips, she glared at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“The dragon.”
Damn it, he hadn’t meant to say it. He wasn’t even angry about the incident anymore, but the girl unnerved him in a way no one had for some time. Lately his thoughts had been far from honorable while in her presence and it angered him that he seemed to have no control over his thoughts when she was around.
“Oh.” She rolled her eyes. “I wondered when you’d bring that up. Look, I saved us both, didn’t I?”
He clenched his jaw, chanting to himself not to take the bait. But he was angry and the fury of the fight still rode him. For reasons he couldn’t fathom, Robin Hood had been able to see beyond her veil of illusions and the evidence of the lust burning in his blue eyes had snapped something almost violent inside of Giles.
“Yes, and you were reckless. That would have been the right moment to use the wish. You should not have toyed with the beast as you did.”
Why was he carrying on this way? He grabbed his head, wanting to take it all back, but feeling too much of a fool to do it now.
Clenching her fist, she growled. “No, I would not waste the wish on that, it was nothing. I saved us. Right? Why argue about this?”
“Lilith,” he pinched his brow and willed himself to calm, “do you understand that you are in my keep? I have every intention of returning you safely to your family when this is said and done. But I can only do that if you cooperate and listen.”
And that at least was true. Once he returned her, these thoughts he kept having about her would cease. Thoughts like touching her soft skin, tracing the curves of her new svelte form, revealing her breasts and flicking the tips of her nipples with his tongue.
Growling beneath his breath as blood surged, he shifted and tried to ease the strain between his pants. He’d thought his preoccupation with her the past few days was merely a result of her heat, but when those men had laid their hands on her…
“Listen to what?” she snapped. “You were trapped. I rescued you. The least you could say is thank you. Are you embarrassed? Is that it?” She laughed. “That I, a girl,” she tapped her chest, “was able to—”
“Come on,” he scoffed, “I’m not a sexist. I know what a shifter is capable of, but my word is my bond. It is who I am. I swore to your family that you would return unscathed, that was reckless.”
“Oh, puulease.” She whirled as if to get away from him.
“Stop.” He grabbed her by the elbow. “I am telling you that this place feels wrong and you should not wander, Lilith. We are stronger together.”
Lifting a brow, she glanced down at his hand until he released her. “I’m going to the river to bathe. Do not follow me, demone, or attempt to spy on me in any way, for I swear, the way I feel right now, I’d do you bodily harm.”
His nostrils flared as he watched her walk away.
Back in the pub he’d felt hope that perhaps they could find common footing, but her wolf was youthful and wild, she did not understand the dangers of the world as she thought she did.
The entire time at the pub he’d had a feeling that they’d been spied on. He’d not been able to ascertain by whom, but the sense of unease had only grown the more distance they put between themselves and the pub.
The woods were alive and full of creatures both good and devious.
Gazing into the shadow, he lit the fire and awaited her return.
Lilith stomped back to the water’s edge, casting off her robes the moment she spied the water.
“That vile, awful, misogynistic man!” she spat, splashing into the near-arctic waters of the rushing river. She’d hoped their chat in the pub would have made things better between them, but suddenly it seemed so much worse and she hated that she felt a lump in her throat and tears burning her eyes.
It didn’t matter to her what that man thought.
Sniffing, she wiped at the betraying tear in her eye and determined herself to put him out of her mind.
Allowing her magic to waver long enough for her to bathe the dust and grime of their journey off, she stepped into the goosebump-inducing waters.
That he would dare criticize her for doing what needed to be done. And not even a thank you to be had. She should have left him there to rot. He’d been snared by the dragon’s spell, sure, there’d been the wish. Using it would have been infinitely less stressful than the route she’d chosen, but she’d gotten the job done, hadn’t she? And they hadn’t had to waste the magic of the godmother’s wish so soon into their journey.
She clutched the glass pendant in her hand.