A Curse of Shadows - Page 64

Before the sound has faded, she looks at Asher and whimpers. The desire to be with him resonates with both of us, but before we can do so, we have to take care of ourselves first.

Go, I say gently.

In the next second, we’re running as if our life depends on every lengthening stride we take. Maybe it does. This time, when my lungs burn, I cling to the pain, knowing there will never be another moment like this in my life.

My wolf is here and I will never let her go again. Her presence hums inside my mind, a steady partner I don’t know how I could have forgotten in any lifetime.

She mourns for the years lost but weeps for the time we still have as we race through the forest for no other reason than to bond with one another. There is no destination in mind, just the sense of freedom that only nature can provide us.

As she loops around a fallen tree, she cuts left and starts to slow. Listening, I hear the river once again, but we’re nowhere near where we were with Elyn.

There isn’t a soul around us, which surprises me. I expected Asher to follow, but I appreciate him giving me this moment with my wolf. One I needed more than anyone could have ever explained to me before.

She stops at the riverbank, her head moving until we can see our reflection on the water’s smooth surface. Our chest heaves from the exertion and our eyes seem almost wild, unrestrained, but as her tongue lolls out the side of her mouth, I know neither of us has ever been happier.

Closing my eyes, I settle into the warmth of her spirit. As she drinks from the water, more memories come back to me. None of them standing out brighter than the other, but twenty-plus years of friendship the two of us shared is returned to me.

My first friend, the first being I knew would never hurt me and would show me unconditional love.

As the memories start to fade, our chest starts to pound all over again, but not because of an overwhelming amount of energy we need to expend like before.

No, this time, it beats only for our mate.

It isn’t just memories of being one with my wolf before that are returned to me, it’s of her and Asher’s wolf running together, nipping at each other, knowing there will never be another for either of us.

Suddenly, the drive to get back to him, to feel his skin beneath mine, to mark him and hold on to him for the rest of my long life isn’t something I can ignore.

Neither can my wolf.

This time, when we run through the forest, our paws barely touch the ground, eating up the distance we’ve created.

With every step closer, a tether begins to unfurl within my chest, leading us forward. Asher’s woodsy scent envelops me and makes my wolf’s body shudder with anticipation so strong that I can’t tell who’s more desperate for him, me or her.

After too many minutes later, we return to the place we left him, not slowing until he’s within our sights. We glance around and notice we’re alone. Elyn isn’t anywhere close, though her scent still lingers.

Even though logically, I know the elder isn’t a threat, a growl grows within my chest as we come to a stop.

Asher holds up his hands. “It’s okay. I’m here and you’re safe and nobody is going to interfere.”

He steps closer, his movements slow, but that isn’t working for us.

My wolf pictures my human form and I instantly know what she wants, what we want. I need to shift back.

Calling her energy back toward my core is like breathing in the sweetest treat. With every inhale, she comes back to me and the light returns until my body is searing with heat and then, just as quickly as she came to be, I’m back on two legs.

Only I’m missing a thing or two.

None of my clothes have returned with me, but that’s the least of my thoughts as soon as my gaze connects with Asher’s.

As if the world has been off-kilter every second before this, everything around me steadies. The anchor tying me to this world now extends to the man before me. A man whose love extends beyond reason, whose mind fascinates me in ways I’ll never be able to understand but never want to forget.

His breaths give me life. Without him, I do not exist. It has always been him, from the moment I came into this world and not just two weeks ago, but centuries ago.

The colors of the sky and trees and earth are brighter just knowing him and the elation that fills my heart as he reaches for me is more than I deserve, but I take every bit he’s offering.

Mate.

My entire essence seems to levitate with the sheer force of the bond we share. He is mine, and I am his—now and always.