Page 28 of Love Summoned

“Oh.” My cheeks flood with heat. “Is that why it’s always so hot when you two are around each other?” Rowan tilts his head in question. “I’m an empath. I feel others’ emotions and intentions.”

His brown eyes flare with realization, and he squeezes the back of his neck. “My apologies. It can be a very carnal desire until the bond is accepted.”

“What happens the longer you wait?”

“You can fall into a rut. The wolf will stop at nothing until he has claimed his mate. It becomes greedy. Untamable. You never want to take anyone against their will. It’s preferable that the bond either be claimed or rejected before letting yourself get that far.”

“How long does it take to get to that point?”

“With every full moon that passes, the chance of becoming feral grows stronger.” His pain hits my chest with deep longing.

“I’m happy to talk to her.” I place my hand over his forearm. “I don’t want to push either of you, this is your bond to be guided by, but if I can help all you have to do is ask.”

Rowan nods gratefully just as Grandpa comes racing past us and disappears down the hallway toward Celeste’s room.

“I still can’t believe your Grandpa is your cat.” Rowan muses.

“Really? In our world?”

He chuckles. “Yeah, I guess you have a point. I’ll see you in the morning.” Rowan steps away, the sound of his boots gently echoing down the stairs leaving me with thoughts of my own unclaimed bond—curse—whatever the hell this is.

My room is dark when I close the door behind me, only the light from the moon filtering through the open window. The fall air is cool as it drifts inside, bringing with it the smell of damp forest soil and ripe apples. I fall onto my bed, closing my eyes with a sigh. My mind and body is exhausted, but my unsolved visions refuse to let me rest.

Research as a sedative it is then.

I roll over and flick on the lamp on the nightstand.

“Cute pj’s.”

13

“What are you doing here?” Sera scrambles off the bed, eyes frantically searching the rest of the room.

“You really shouldn’t leave your window open,” I say, tucking a hand behind my head where I lay on her bed, one ankle crossed over the other. “All kinds of creatures could sneak in.”

The room smells like lilies and honey, and, just like every time I’m close to her, that buzzing energy that sizzles on my skin settles into something warm and welcoming.

“Yes, I can see that.” She huffs, but the corner of her mouth lifts. “Seriously, what are you doing sneaking into my room at night?”

I spent the last hour pacing in my room. After Len, Jett, and I shared the bottle of whiskey, my mind was no clearer on what to do about my current situation. My life before was fine, not great, but certainly not the shit show that it currently is since the witch came into it and unleashed on me whatever this thing is between us.

“We need to figure out this bond business.”

Sera puts her hands on her hips. “You don’t think I’m trying?”

“Are you?”

“Of course I am. We’re looking into local lore, my lineage, other reported mate bonds between witches and demons. We’ve asked the wolves. Everything we find about bonds says to accept them or reject them. And anything to do with this town comes up empty. I don’t know what else to do except wait for another vision to clarify what I’m seeing.”

“Reject the bond? We can reject it?”

“I don’t know.” She throws her hands up with a huff. “Wolves can, so maybe…?”

I twist on the bed, dropping my feet to the floor as I face her. “Okay, so how do we do that?”

“You say your full name and that you reject the other.”

I should be relieved that this could all be over in a matter of seconds, but something in my gut is giving me pause.