Chapter 13 Solid Ground
Marlow
The cabin door slams open with such force that it rattles on its hinges and Wynn bursts out in full bloodhound mode.
His nostrils flare dramatically as he sniffs the air so conspicuously that I can hear his exaggerated inhalations, followed by a curse as his search yields nothing.
Where’s the fire? Did Timmy fall in a well or something?
“Damn it,” he mutters under his breath after another futile sniff. “Of all the times to actually cover his scent…”
“What are you doing?” I wonder from behind him.
"Oh…" Wynn startles slightly, spinning around to face me. He scratches the back of his neck awkwardly, trying to mask his embarrassment now that he's been caught. "You didn’t go far."
"Nah. I’d probably get lost or run right into trouble."
I lean casually against the weathered wooden wall of the cabin. He was so consumed with trying to track me down and find me in the wilderness that he didn't realize how close I was. I stayed right here, so there's no trail to follow.
Wynn shuffles closer, shoving his hands into his pockets awkwardly. "Look, I was too hard on you before. I’m sorry."
The whole 'getting lost in the vastness between planes of existence’ thing can scare anybody. But I wasn’t expecting him to get over his anger so soon. Oh. I've got a sneaking suspicion about why he changed his tune. “What did Iggy tell you?”
"About how you two met."
Alright then. I sigh heavily, dragging a hand down my face. Guess it’s time to explain.
"My abilities lie in summoning and partnering with creatures. Instead of partnering with dragons or monsters, I prefer working smaller. It didn’t really make me popular in the underworld. Fortunately, I’m a stubborn bastard and didn’t let that stop me.”
Wynn smiles at the joke. I keep going.
“Partnering with the smaller, so-called lower creatures fell out of favor long ago. Guess it’s just easier to boss them around.” I huff, my gaze dropping to the dirt beneath my boots. “One of the many reasons I’m glad Iggy and I relocated.”
Addressing the redwoods behind him is easier than talking to the guy in front of me, so it surprises me when he moves. He doesn't end up going far, parking himself against the wall next to me.
“Basically, if I summon something and form an agreement with it, completing it successfully gives me power. Iggy’s my only permanent partner so I can spread the love around.
I can’t give free rides, but I don’t ask for much.
That’s what I do. Invite as many little buddies as I can, have them make the bed or listen in on a conversation, and then pay them with food or some trinket. ”
Wynn gets where I’m going with this.
"Oh my god. That's why you're bad at everything,” he realizes.
I wince. "Yeah."
"Sorry. I mean, the creatures, they do everything for you?"
"I know how it sounds, believe me." Clenching my fists, I barely suppress the urge to fidget. Why am I even embarrassed? He knows how helpless I am. "Me having an army of underworld minions to do my chores for me. They make being an investigator real easy too, they’re the perfect spies.”
"It sounds like a pretty sweet deal,” he says softly. Not judging me, he just waits patiently for me to continue.
"Yeah." The tiny creatures of the underworld agree.
"Sometimes I run out of jobs for them all.
Had some imps come up with a play once just to keep them busy.
Had one flick the lights off and on just because there was nothing else to do.
" I peek at him from the corner of my eye, groaning as I admit my inadequacy.
"So now you're asking me to pull my weight and help you, but it's been years since I did these things for myself and… "
I don’t even make my own coffee anymore. Gremlins do it for me.
"Guess I got too reliant on them." I sigh and thunk my head against the cabin wall. "Now I'm useless."
Wynn shakes his head. "Hey, no. I was upset and too harsh when I said that."
"You were right.” Shame prickles hotly along the back of my neck. “My powers are all I have to offer and I can’t even use them. The cops confiscated my rings that help me navigate."
"No, I was wrong," he insists. "I'm glad you're useless."
"Thank you?"
"That came out wrong,” he admits sheepishly, raking a hand through his curls as he fumbles, and I can see the gears turning in his head. "If having a creature here means they aren't with someone cruel like Iggy described, then I'd say you made the right choice."
Damn it, those big doggie eyes and that sweet sincerity are too much to handle. I shrug awkwardly, casting my gaze down to my scuffed boots. "Still, I should have told you this in the first place." But how do you confess to your supposed mate that you're more helpless than a newborn kitten?
Especially when it’s him. Wynn Blackwood, the wonder wolf himself. A man capable of living off the land with nothing but his wits and instincts. A man who can keep us hidden while navigating this godforsaken forest.
All I do is try and fail to break all the shit.
Then there's his curly hair begging to be tugged, his love and knowledge of all things nature, and all the sweet smiles he directs at Iggy, at the trees, at everyone but me.
Ever since I played him the first night, he's been keeping me at arm’s length. If I hadn't been so desperate to escape, if I hadn't let the thought of being so close to ending all this and getting my life back tempt me, maybe I would have realized I shouldn’t make an enemy of him.
I'm not sure if I'll ever win him over again.
"We got off on the wrong foot," Wynn says, drawing me from my thoughts. "Neither of us trusted the other. I said we were stuck together, but that’s not how it should be."
"You cutting me loose?" This time, I can’t pretend otherwise. I feel a twinge of disappointment, just a little, enough to twist my gut.
"No, you dummy." Wynn's smile breaks through the tension. "We should be working together. Willingly this time. Maybe things will go smoother if we stop getting in our own way."
"I'm willing to give it a shot," I say casually. Inside, however, I'm stupidly grateful to hear those words.
"Me too."
A real partnership. Partners in crime. That's the most I can ask for. It's even nice, staying out here for a minute and enjoying the quiet of the forest together.
We’ll work together willingly this time. Get through this. Then go our separate ways. That was my original plan and it’s still a good one dammit, even if it’s becoming harder to remember why.
But hoping for anything else would be foolish. I'm the most inadequate potential mate. How could I ever deserve someone like him?
Dammit. I've been spending too much time stuck inside a cramped cabin, bored out of my skull. Cabin fever. That's what these crazy thoughts must be.