Chapter 10
Vallie was hiding something.
It wasn’t his place to pry or pressure her into revealing all her secrets, but there was no way that sharp grief he smelled on her had to do with Verona. Verona was alive, they were going to her now. That scent was reserved for the worst type of loss.
Had she been thinking of her mother? When she spoke of her before, there hadn’t been a wave of unbearable sadness, only a pang. This was decidedly different.
But, she didn’t want to tell him. He wouldn’t lie, it irked him slightly, but it meant one thing: Lambda hadn’t earned her trust yet. Once he did, she would feel comfortable sharing everything with him.
Lambda shifted from seated to his knees, then got to his feet. He still felt a bit unsteady, but much better than before. He walked a few yards, tapping the trees as he walked past.
“You’re not falling over,” Vallie commented.
“Don’t feel like I’m going to either.” He stretched his arms over his head and rolled his neck a few times. “I wonder if the wall only works within a certain distance and once I’m far enough away, it simply needs to leave my system.”
“No one ever explained to you how silver works?”
Lambda shrugged. “When you’re a pup, they tell you to stay away from it, but it’s not really in wolf territory. I didn’t touch the wall—which may have burnt me—but being near it definitely fucked with me.”
“Hm. When we get back to Luven, you should ask one of the doctors at that fancy hospital. If there was a metal hanging out in the world that could render me incapacitated, I’d want to know more about it. I wonder if there’s anything that affects humans like silver affects you.”
“Extreme cold. Extreme heat. Probably a lot of poisons.”
Vallie smirked. “Yes, but those would affect wolves, too.” She paused and furrowed her brow. “Right? You aren’t immune to poisons. Or the elements. Oh shit, are you immortal?”
Lambda smothered a smile. “Would it bother you if I was?”
“Fuck, yes it would! I don’t want to get old while watching you run around like a spry thirty-year-old for the rest of my life.”
“Even if I find you as attractive in sixty years as I do today?” Lambda mused.
“You better. And, of course, you will. I’m your mate. You’re hardwired to want me. But I would be really put off if you can still run laps around the woods while I’m sitting in a rocking chair on the porch.”
“Good thing I’m not immortal.”
“You, dick,” she laughed. “But good. You better be sitting next to me while both our asses get old.” She shook her head. “This is so fucking weird! I don’t know you! But, I mean, I know enough about you wolfies that if you say I’m your mate, I know it’s happening. Hell. You’re the last guy I’ll ever fuck.”
“I hope so,” he teased.
“It’s crazy, though. You have to think it’s crazy too.”
“Believe me.” He lowered his voice. “I walked into a ritual unmated without a care in the world two days ago and now I’m on the other side of the wall following a woman I do not know but care more for than anyone else in the world to storm a dragon keep.” He smiled. “It’s crazy.”
“Good. As long as we agree.”
*
By evening, Lambda’s strength had returned. The wall’s effect had died down, and he was very happy to know the next time he attempted to catapult himself over that block of silver, he’d be landing in wolf territory, and not depending on his mate to keep the two of them safe. And even if he couldn’t get back over, she would. He would make sure of it.
Lambda stood and stretched, pulling his arms above his head, then touching his toes. He found a big rock and picked it up, then dropped it to the ground.
“What are you doing?” Vallie asked, taking a break from her jerky.
“Making sure my body is working before we set off again.” Sunset was coming, and once the shadows of the trees were long, they’d start walking to the next copse of trees.
“Is it?”
“I think so. Come here and let me see if I can pick you up.”
Vallie laughed. “I’m kind of heavy. Not a dainty little wisp of a woman.”
“I’m kind of a wolf. I could carry three of you on a normal day.” Vallie snorted and got to her feet.
“Ok, pick me up.”
Lambda put a hand under her knees and another mid back and whisked her into his arms in a moment.
“Ah!” she yelped, throwing her arms around his neck. “I didn’t expect you to do that so easily.”
“What about this?” he asked, quickly throwing her over his shoulder. He squeezed her thigh once for good measure.
“Now you’re just showing off,” she laughed. “You’re clearly a strong wolf. You can put me down.”
Lambda slowly lowered Vallie, her body sliding down his as he did.
“Lambda,” she said, her hands on his biceps. “I feel like you are trying to seduce me. I will not be seduced.”
He grinned. “I won’t seduce you until Verona is safe in the hospital. As promised.”
“Not even a little?” she teased.
“I made a promise. I’m not going to kiss you or touch you or try to make you come until we’re over the wall again with your sister in tow. I don’t break promises.”
Lambda looked at his mate, her green eyes sparkling in the failing light. “And what if I wanted to kiss you or touch you right now?”
“I wouldn’t stop you,” he admitted. Vallie moved her hands up his arms and circled his neck, then leaned in until their mouths were just an inch apart.
“Don’t stop me then,” she whispered.
And with that, she kissed him.
Lambda basked in the joy of her mouth on his. Her lips, full and damp, parting, her tongue on his, her breath mingled with his. He pulled her close, as close as he could without crushing her.
The taste of her was heaven.
Their mouths moved, their hands wandered, until after a few moments, Vallie pulled away, planted a last peck on his mouth, and grinned widely.
“Yeah. I can do this. I can be your mate. If you kiss like that, everything else will fall into place.”
Lambda could only nod, looking over her like she was the Moon Goddess made human in his arms. He raised a hand and buried it in her hair.
“We need to go,” she whispered, nodding toward the setting sun. “Lots of ground to cover in the darkness.”
“Mhm.” He pressed his mouth against hers one last time, savoring the softness of her lips, the vibration of her sigh, her pliant form against him. “All right. Let’s go.”
“On our way,” she answered.