Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46787 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Goldie walked between us, her boots crunching softly on frost-bitten leaves. Her body brushed mine every now and then, and I could feel how much colder she was getting. I felt the tremble in her limbs. Her breath came out in small puffs, white and misty in the moonlight.
“You’re shaking,” I said quietly, ducking my head toward her.
“I’m fine,” she insisted, though her voice was tight with effort. “Just…a little chilly, that’s all.”
Ronan shot me a glance from her other side. He didn’t say anything, but I saw the stiffness in his shoulders again. Even after the encounter with the deer he was suspicious—watching her too closely. I wished I could reason with him—make him see she didn’t want to harm us. But now wasn’t the time to argue.
“Let’s stop here for the night,” I said, slowing to a halt when we came to a clearing in the woods. “It’s not safe to keep pushing.” I looked at Goldie. “You’re freezing.”
“I c-can k-keep going,” Goldie started to protest, but Ronan cut her off.
“Finn’s right,” he growled. “Your teeth are chattering. Last thing we need is you passing out from cold and freezing to death.”
That earned him a glare from her, but she reached into her jacket pocket anyway and pulled out something small and round—the tent her friend, Goody Albright had given her. It didn’t look like much, but I could sense the magic humming in it.
“All right, let’s see if that thing really does have everything we need in it,” Ronan remarked.
Goldie frowned at him.
“I’m sure it’s good—Goody A’s magic is always top-notch.”
She placed the tiny tent in the center of the clearing and we all stepped back, giving it room to grow. Then Goldie looked at the piece of paper that had come with the tent, took a deep breath, and recited two soft, sing-song lines.
“Cozy dome and candlelight,
Keep us safe this forest night.”
With a ripple of soundless motion, the tent began to grow. We all stepped back again, instinctively as the spell took hold. In seconds, a low, rounded dome of canvas and gold-stitched velvet stood in its place, like a toadstool that had sprouted from nothing. The flap opened with a little sigh, revealing warm light spilling out from inside.
“Well, damn,” Ronan muttered. “I’ll give the old witch this—she knows her craft.”
Goldie turned to us, a little triumphant spark in her eyes, though her hands were still trembling.
“Told you Goody A’s magic is top notch. And don’t call her an ‘old witch.’ She’s a respected magic user.”
“Yeah, well…” Ronan looked like he wanted to argue.
“Let’s get inside,” I said, interrupting their argument. I put a hand to Goldie’s lower back to guide her forward. Her body was cold through the light jacket she was wearing. Too cold. It made something tight and urgent twist in my chest. Even though we barely knew her, I was worried—I wanted to keep her safe and warm.
Goldie resisted for a moment, her eyes clashing with Ronan’s. Then she let me guide her into the tent and Ronan followed us.
The inside of the tent was cozy and inviting. There were no visible heat sources, but the air was a bit warmer than outside—at least our breath didn’t come out in white puffs. A trio of flickering globe-lights hovered at the top of the dome, casting a soft, golden glow. In the center of the tent, thick blankets and cushioned bedrolls had already arranged themselves in a row, leaving space to one side for boots and gear.
Goldie slipped off her shoes and jacket and sank down onto the middle blanket, hugging her knees to her chest. Her cheeks were flushed now—maybe from the temperature shift or maybe because she was still irritated with Ronan—and a strand of blonde hair drifted across her eyes. She blew it out of the way with a soft puff of air.
I crouched beside her, wanting to be close in case she needed me. She still looked cold.
“You okay?” I murmured.
She nodded.
“Just… really glad we stopped. Thanks, Finn—this was a good call.”
Ronan remained standing just inside the tent’s entrance, his arms crossed tight over his chest. He hadn’t said a word since we stepped inside, but he was watching her. The way his eyes tracked her movements made me want to growl. Was I feeling jealous? Possessive? I had never felt that way before around Ronan—he was my Clan mate. But I could see the heat in his gaze when he looked at Goldie—a heat I was feeling too.
“Are you going to sit down or stand there and glare all night?” I asked, sharper than I meant to.
His jaw clenched.
“Just keeping an eye on things.”
Goldie glanced between us and gave a little half-smile.
“It’s all right, boys. I know I make you both…nervous.”
Right—if “nervous” was the word for it. Tell that to my cock, which was getting hard just from being near her and breathing in her sweet, feminine scent. God, why did she have to smell so good?