Yellow overrides the blue of his eyes, and he stands up straight, a new rasp in his voice as he says, “If there were, I wouldn’t tell you.”
Celine jumps down from the rock. I curse and follow her, but she’s already halfway to the naked man.
“That was the right answer, Sully, so I’m going to level with you.”
She thrusts her hand out, and he shakes it slowly, startled by her sudden decision to give up the high ground.
“My dad’s a dick. Whatever you’re thinking, he’s worse. Riven and I just got back from the monster realm—fights to the death, miserable cold, imprisonment, and a bunch of other unpleasant shit. It’s a long story, but in the process of escaping, my father took something that belongs to me. I’ve been trying to get it back, and we were told there might be a gateway to the celestial realm in these woods. If you let me check it out without a fight, I’ll owe you one.”
“You’re an angel?”
Celine nods.
Sullivan holds her stare for a long moment, then glances at me. “My dad says anyone dumb enough to leave a veydra breathing deserves whatever happens to them next.”
Celine steps in front of me, all friendliness leaving her expression in a flash. “Riven will leave here breathing, Sully, I promise you that. Whether you do the same is up to you, but I won’t let you touch him. I’ve lost too much already; I won’t lose anything else.”
Two of the wolves growl.
I brace to fight.
Sullivan’s smile widens. “You didn’t let me finish, honey. I was going to say my dad’s a dick, too. You’re welcome to check out the rumor. It’s been too long since I pissed Pops off, and I never turn down an opportunity to earn a favor from abeautiful woman.”
Celine rolls her eyes. “Has anyone ever told you that you talk too slow?”
His gaze travels over her from head to toe. “Some things shouldn’t be rushed.”
I grind my teeth. He’s flirting with her, and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it.
TWENTY-FOUR
Unspoken Rule of the Fringes #23:
Snap judgments can save your life.
CELINE
Working at the Fang has given me a lot of skills. One being the ability to read men.
Sullivan Buchanan, with his muscles, manscaping, dimple, and aw-shucks southern drawl, is a fuck boy and a flirt. He loves women—probably, too much—but I don’t get the idea that he loves hurting them.
Since I’d rather check out the gateway location without creating a blood feud with Sullivan’s pack, my gut instincts about his morals will have to be enough.
He’s handsome, but I have no interest in adding anyone else to my bed. I have all I’ll ever want already, even if I live another century or two. All I have to do is keep them safe, which is proving easier said than done.
More interesting than the naked wolf shifter or my complex relationship is how we ended up in pack lands to begin with.Ciprian’s contact said this area fell inside the southern enclave’s territory. That doesn’t make sense,except... I’m an idiot. It makes perfect sense.
This is Fringe territory. Their enclave must not have a concrete presence here. They were scared to check the rumor out themselves because of the wolves, so they’re letting us do their dirty work for them. Typical enclave bullshit. They want access to the Fringes without assuming risk or responsibility. Different region, same shady tactics. I only wish I were surprised.
By the time we reach the gateway coordinates, my skin is tingling, and I shove supernatural politics to the back of my mind.
The clearing is dripping with celestial magic.Activecelestial magic.
I glance at Riven and nod. This is a real gateway.We found one.
Ignoring my pounding heart, I circle the clearing and search for the activation rune. There, etched onto a lump of granite and partially embedded in the red dirt. I hold my hand over the stone, and it lights up, shining golden and bright.
“I’ll be damned,” Sully mutters. “Be careful, honey. I’ve never seen it do that before.”