It made me wonder what else might have altered or sharpened in our four-way merger, especially given the awareness of change that had hit when I first woke.
Katie might be positive the DNA adaptations caused by the wild magic wouldn’t end with me gaining the ability to shape shift, but what if that was the only thing I couldn’t do? What if I became a wolf in all other ways except that?
And would it matter in the long run? Would it make any damn difference to my relationship with Aiden?
Probably not.
Frustration stirred, and I wished—not for the first damn time—that there was someone we could ask about it all. But unless Monty’s book on the earth magic came through with some sort of information, we were very much in the dark as to where all this might end.
It’s entirely possible that only time will answer any of your questions, Belle commented.
And time is taking entirely too damn long to do so, I grouched. I may well lose him before she motivates herself.
According to Katie, that’ll happen anyway. The question that lingers, however, is whether the break will be permanent. Right now, I’ve a feeling fate is undecided.
I don’t feel inclined to trust my future to the whims of fate, thank you very much.
She laughed. It’s not like you’ve any other choice.
That’s a truth I have no desire to acknowledge right now. I scrubbed a hand through my hair, snagging several knots in the process. I need to grab a shower and some food, so I might be a little late getting into the café—
There’s no need for you to be here today, she cut in. Rest up and come in tomorrow. We’ve been slow all week anyway. Besides, given the shit that happened yesterday, the rangers will probably need you at full strength.
I groaned. I take it we have another murder?
Yes, but Aiden will no doubt fill you in. After you ride that man senseless, of course.
I grinned. Sounds like the perfect plan to me. Catch you tomorrow.
Indeed.
I tossed off the sheet and climbed to my feet. Aside from the slight pinching of skin across my shoulder blade where the silver shard had dug in, there were no lingering aches or pain from the caravan blast. The bruising—which had promised to be spectacular—was also very absent. I might not be able to shift shape, but my healing capacity was almost wolf strong these days.
I padded into the shower and washed the days of grime and sweat away. My hair was a mess, and it took a fair bit of conditioner and a whole lot of swearing to detangle it. By the time I’d finished and stepped out, the soft whistle of a kettle and the sizzle of frying bacon told me Aiden had returned and was now making breakfast.
I pulled on a T-shirt but didn’t bother with anything else, and padded barefoot down the stairs. The warmth in the air sharpened as I neared the ground floor, and the rich scents of frying bacon and musky male filled every breath. Hunger flicked through me, and I wasn’t entirely sure which scent it was responding to more.
Aiden was busy flipping eggs, but glanced up as I jumped down the last couple of steps and strode toward him. His gaze skimmed me and came up hot and heavy. Hunger strengthened, and this time there was no doubt as to its cause.
“Morning,” I said cheerfully. “Hope there’s plenty of that bacon cooking, because I’m famished.”
His grin was decidedly wicked. “And not just for bacon, from the smell of things.”
“Well, no, but I do have my priorities, and you, Ranger, sadly come second to bacon and eggs.”
He shook his head, though his woebegone expression was somewhat spoiled by the sexy glint in his eyes. “And a sad state of affairs that is, too. I’m not sure how I’ll ever get over it.”
I laughed, wrapped a hand around his neck, and pulled him into a kiss that was as hot and needy as I felt. A low rumble rose up his throat, and desire surged—a warm and delicious wave that had tiny beads of sweat dancing delightedly across my skin. I briefly—and seriously—reconsidered my priorities, but a loud grumble from my stomach soon put paid to the idea.
“That,” Aiden murmured, his breath warm against my lips, “sounds like I’d better put on more bacon.”
I laughed and moved around him to make the coffee. “How’s your brother?”
“Not fully out of the woods just yet, but at least recovering, thanks to you.” His amusement fell away. “Honestly, Liz, my family—”
“Owes me nothing.” I shrugged as I reached for a coffee filter. “It was Katie’s doing, not mine or Belle’s. We were just her conduits.”
“Maybe, but we both know the toll it takes on you and Belle.” He hesitated. “I also owe you a personal and very deep apology.”
I frowned at him. “What for?”
“For all but dragging you into the ICU. For giving you little choice when you’d just survived a dangerous rollover and were wet, tired, and undoubtedly sore.”
“It’s fine, Aiden.”
“No, it’s not. At the very least, I should have asked.”
A smile tugged at my lips. “Do you honestly think Katie would have allowed me to walk out of that hospital without helping Dillon?”
Confusion touched his expression. “How on earth would she stop you? She’s a spirit.”
“One who controls wild magic … and wild magic resides in my soul.”
“Does that mean she could control you if she wanted?”
“In all honesty, I don’t know. Nor do I honestly believe she’d have forced me, but …” I shrugged. “Spirit or not, she is a wolf, and family is absolutely everything to a wolf, is it not?”
It was a barb, even if a very gentle one, and he grimaced. “That doesn’t excuse our behavior. At all.”
“I’m fine, Aiden.” I paused and frowned. “Why isn’t Dillon out of the woods? By forcing his shape shift, shouldn’t his body have healed all his wounds?”
“Normally, yes, but his legs were so badly smashed that the shift—while it saved his life—only partially reset his legs.” His eyes were clouded with worry. “He’s already had one surgery to reset his right leg in the hope that another shift will knit the bone in the correct position, but they can’t guarantee it’ll work. He may be left with a permanent limp.”
“Better a limp than death.”
“I guess.”
My eyebrows rose. “What the hell does that mean?”
He hesitated. “To a wolf, running with the pack is everything. It’s a time of deep bonding—a reaffirmation, if you wish, to family and pack. To be unable to participate—” He sucked in a breath and released it slowly. “It will affect his future when it comes to mate possibilities.”
I snorted. “Any woman who discounts a man because he has a limp isn’t fucking worth the time of day.”
“Yes, but that does not alter the fact that there are some who will always judge him—and treat him as less—because of it. But enough of Dillon.” His gaze skimmed me again, this time more critically. “Are you truly okay?”
“More than okay, to be honest.”
He raised an eyebrow, seeming to sense there was something more to that answer. “Does that include the silver wound you forgot to tell me about?”