Waxing Gibbous

Chapter 13

“That was a very stupid thing you did, witch. You could have been scratched, or worse, killed!” Soren was yelling at her, pacing back in forth in front of the couch where Tegan was seated. His face was ruddy and his eyes were just a little too wild, lightening to the liquid amber they turn to when he changes to a wolf.

Tegan crossed her arms over her chest and stared up at him with fire and defiance burning in her dark depths. “Stop your barking, wolf-boy. You weren’t doing anything to help. All you did what pick a fight. I told you to talk to him, not haul off and punch him.”

He stopped pacing to gape at her. “He has been working with the enemy!”

“Yeah…against his will,” she yelled right back.

“How do you know that?” Soren demanded.

“Did it really look like he wanted to turn into whatever that thing was? I tell you what. It sure didn’t look like it was any fun to me,” she groused.

“I don’t trust him.” Soren looked in the direction of the bedroom Ulrick had taken his eldest son to. A few minutes after Kerr had converted back to his human form he had passed out in her lap.

“I didn’t say I trusted him completely. But I think –”

“That’s just it. You don’t think! You put yourself in danger to help someone that is working against you.” Soren was back to looking at her like he would rip her head off. To be honest, his attitude was starting to piss her off.

“Soren…”

“Don’t think that everything is going to be all right after this,” he warned.

“What do you mean by that?”

“If I have to lock you up somewhere to keep you safe then that is what I’ll do.”

Uncrossing her arms, Tegan stood quickly and trudged over to him, getting in his face. “You are not going to dictate what I can and cannot do. I am still a grown woman and I will make my own decisions; not Storm, not Ulrick, and most certainly not you. Your brother needed me and I was there for him. He is still a part of this pack, Soren.”

“He is right, Tegan,” Ulrick said, coming in from the direction of the stairs, newly clothed. “You did something very foolish. You should have never approached him in the frenzied state he was in.”

“I wouldn’t have done it if I wasn’t sure I couldn’t get through to him. I touched him before he transformed. He was fighting whatever darkness was growing inside of him. It was hard but he was doing it. I knew he was doing everything within him to try to keep everyone safe. I don’t know how I knew it, I just did.” The inner turmoil that had been coiling through the werewolf had been fierce , but in the end he had broke through the curse’s hold enough to become human again. Both father and brother seemed to be willfully oblivious to that fact.

“What you did was still foolish no matter how you look at it,” Ulrick chastised like she was a toddler.

Tegan re-crossed her arms defensively. She had a feeling this night was just going to get even better. “I thought my job here was to look after all the wolves in the pack, not pick and choose.”

Though he wasn’t in the throes of a violent conniption fit like Soren, Ulrick looked none too happy with her at the moment. “It is. But it also requires you to stay from danger.”

“I am not apologizing for what I did. He needed me and I was there. You really would have just left your son there suffering?”

“If it meant your safety, yes I would have.” Ulrick inclined his head, having the decency to look just a little embarrassed by his confession.

Tegan was appalled. “What happened to this family values crap you were going on and on about? What happened to looking out for your own?”

“He has betrayed us. Because of him, the entire pack has suffered. If he had never –”

“He was captured and cursed, and you are placing the blame upon his head. Kerr is not responsible for that. It was some psychopathic witch and her bloodthirsty brother.”

“It’s okay, Tegan. They’re right. You shouldn’t have helped me.” Kerr said softly, hobbling down the stairs. He looked like a fever had hold of his body. There was sweat above his brow and his face a flushed. His limbs were shaking so hard it he looked like his legs were about to give out.

She pinned and angry glare at the two werewolves in front of her. “No, they are not right. You need them and they are casting you aside like an unwanted stranger.”

Ulrick’s tone became pleading. “I have to keep my pack safe, Tegan. That is my duty first and foremost. If I have to cast him out to do that –”

“I understand you have to keep them safe. So if you don’t want your son staying around them then he can stay with me.” Ulrick had told her the other day – much to her surprise – that her house would be finished soon. They couldn’t dictate who she let into her own home. If she decided to invite the devil himself, they couldn’t do anything about it.

“I forbid it!” Soren bellowed in rage.

Tegan lifted a brow. “You really want to try that with me, wolf-boy.”

He came over and looked down his nose at her. “I am beta of this pack. I have authority over you.”

“And I can walk away from this island and never look back. After tonight, my eyes have been opened to the under workings of werewolves. You painted this pretty picture and it doesn’t mean shit to you. It was all a rouse to keep me here.” She scoffed. “I should have listened to my mother. I should have left when I had the chance.” Shaking her head, she looked the two of them up and down. “You both disgust me.”

She turned and was about to go to her room to collect her things. There was no way she was staying another night here with these animals.

A hand clamped painfully on her shoulder, the nails forcefully digging into her skin. “You may be the healer, Tegan, but you will not talk to me nor disobey me like this in my own home.”

She looked up to find Ulrick scowling down at her. “Let go. You’re hurting me,” Tegan ground out through clenched teeth.

“I am warning you not to push me,” he growled.

“What are you going to do?” she challenged. “Kill me? You need me a whole hell of a lot more than what I need you right now,” she hissed and a low, deadly voice. She was too angry to be scared, too angry to see anything but rage.

“You are trying my patience with your deliberate insolence. The only reason I am holding back is because you are not used to our customs yet.”

Tegan gave a sharp laugh. “No wonder why Soren is the way he is. And in case you haven’t noticed, he has been scratched to. Are you going to cast him aside as soon as he spazzes out?”

“I…Soren –“ he stuttered, loosening his hold on her. She shimmied out of his grip and took a couple steps away in case he decided to grab her again.

“Both of them need their father right now. You can’t pick one over the other. They are both your children. You cannot push him aside because you think he has betrayed you. Kerr has no one right now but his family. And you turn your back on him instead of trying to help him get out of the mess he is in. Anyone can see that he loves you guys. This wasn’t something he did vindictively or even purposely,” she said.

It might be stupid of her to take this task on, but she could understand what Kerr must feel. For the last few months before Tegan had come to the island, she had had no one. Of course she had friends, but it wasn’t that same as having family with you. Tegan had been on her own since her mother died – that is until she came here. She didn’t want Kerr to have to go through this with no one to turn to. There were kindred spirits in that manner.

Her mother had been the only family that she had known and her mother’s death had been an accident. Kerr’s family was still here on earth and they were turning their backs on him. How awful that must feel to him to have no one to stand by his side. She couldn’t, with a clear conscience, leave him to his own devices.

Ulrick ran a hand through his hair in frustration. “Tegan, if it were that simple…”

“It can be. I’m going to help him whether you like it or not. If you don’t want Kerr in your home, that is fine. Since my house is almost finished, I will take him there with me. There has to be some way to break this curse and I’m going to find it,” she said resolutely.

“Tegan, I can’t ask you to do this for me.” Kerr came over to stand closer.

“You aren’t. And I’m not only doing this for you. I’m doing it for Soren. He is more than likely cursed with the same spell you are. He is going to need someone to be there for him when he falls to the same madness. And he is also going to be in need of a miracle.” She turned from the three wolves and mounted the steps to her room with Storm quietly on her heels.

Tegan had a lot to think about, a lot of information to process. One thing that she was sure of, she did not want to stay here anymore. She slumped down in her bed, curling up next to Storm to fall into an uneasy sleep.

When she woke the next morning, she packed up all her things and had Storm lead her back to their home nestled in the woods. There were a few werewolves still milling about, making sure everything was secure and picking up supplies and other things scattered across her yard.

Gone was the peeling paint, the warped wood, the unhinged shutters. The grass had been mowed down, the broken tree limbs removed. The unruly bushes were clipped into neat square hedges.

Zeke, a huge beast of a werewolf, came over to her. He had to have been over six five because she barely came up to mid chest. He was dressed in a white tank top that hugged tightly to his upper body and coveralls but he didn’t have the top portion of it on leaving it to hang from his hips. He was heavily muscled; there didn’t appear to be an ounce of fat on him anywhere. From what she could gather, he seemed to be in his late twenties.

This werewolf had been one of the first that she greeted after the ceremony. He had been nice enough, but he didn’t speak more than a few words to her. There was a scar across his jaw. He had dark eyes and a mat of dark curly hair on his head. There were dirt smudges on his face from work. There was a calm, yet deadly aura about him. He was not a guy to mess with but he had been nothing but friendly toward her. She would never want to make an enemy out of him.

“Hello, Tegan,” he greeted in a deep baritone. “Just finishing.” He nodded toward the house. “Want a tour?”

“Sure. The outside looks amazing. It doesn’t even look like the same place. It’s beautiful. Thank you so much,” she said excitedly. Tegan had to contain herself from bouncing up and down and clapping her hands together. She was so happy to finally be back at her own place. She chewed on her lip, waiting as patiently as she could to see all the work that had been done.

The once dilapidated house had been repainted in a warm tan color. The shutters had all been replaced as well as repainted in off-white. The roof and windows had also been replaced. How they got so much work done in so little time she hadn’t a clue. Her guess would be that there was a lot of werewolf muscle involved. The one thing certain was that they had done one hell of a job. Looking at the finished outside made her yearn to look inside.

Zeke motioned for her to follow him as he walked up onto the renewed porch.

Tegan looked at the brand new front steps. They were completely moss free and didn’t squeak or splinter under her weight. She didn’t need to fear going through them and breaking a leg.

She almost wept with joy and she wasn’t even in the house yet.

“You’ve heat, electric, water, and a phone now,” Zeke explained, opening the new front door. She looked down and there was even a welcome mat. In any of the places she and her mother had lived, there had never been one of those.

They walked inside and Tegan gasped. They had done away with all the ghost furniture. The inside was completely redone. The living room was painted a pretty hydrangea blue with dove grey furniture. The new carpeting was a color in between the two. She ran her fingers across the back of the new sofa with plush cushions. It was suede, smooth and cool under her touch. There was a lamp on a table beside the couch. She clicked it on with excitement.

“Lights!” she shouted with childlike glee. “We have lights, Storm.”

Her familiar looked moderately amused by her enthusiasm. “Yes, we do.”

Zeke showed her the rest of the house. The kitchen had been remodeled in the same fashion. It was repainted in green that was a little lighter in color than the room she had been staying in at Ulrick’s home. The appliances were all gleaming stainless steel and brand new.

“Ulrick really went all out, didn’t he?”

“He told us to get all new stuff so we did,” Zeke said, rolling his shoulders.

The rest of the house went much in the same fashion. Everything was refurnished and repainted, everything was brand spanking new. It must have cost a fortune to remodel the whole house. Tegan had just expected Ulrick to have the house fixed up, maybe even throw a coat of paint on it. But not have it completely restored. She would have to thank him the next time she saw him.

Indulging herself, Tegan went to the living room to flop down on the big comfy looking couch. It was just as comfortable as it looked. She sunk into the luxurious softness with a contented sigh. “You have got to try this baby on for size. If I died right now, I’d be in heaven.”

Storm joined her. “This definitely beats the cold floorboards from before.”

~*~

As it turned out, Storm was all for helping Kerr.

“I like him, unlike Soren,” he had explained to Tegan. “Kerr had always been very kind to me.” It was true. Whenever he had been around the wolves, it had always been Kerr that had been friendly and offered him a kind smile while the others had looked at him as an outsider, as nothing better than the dirt under their paws.

“Besides,” Storm continued, “I know what it’s like to be bound to a sadistic fiend like Magda. I’d imagine her brother is the same if not worse.”

“What do you mean?” Kerr asked, his brows drawn low on his forehead in contemplation.

The familiar looked at the wolf and then down at his clasped hands resting on the kitchen table. “Zelko was Magda’s brother. I don’t know if you know about her.”

Kerr nodded grimly. “I’ve met her. She helped her brother do…things to me.”

Storm could only imagine what those “things” were.

“She branded me and enslaved me to her. I know what you are going through. I only pray that you were spared some of the indignities I suffered.” Storm hoped that Kerr wasn’t put through complete hell. He felt sorry for the werewolf. Even though he had been away from the island, he had suffered just the same.

“I guess I caused pain that reached beyond others of the pack. I am sorry, Storm,” he murmured sadly.

Storm shook his head. As far as he was concerned he had little to apologize for. “I have moved on from it. What’s done is done,” he said firmly. “You did not ask for this any more than I did.”

Tegan jumped into the conversation. “Kerr, did Zelko mark you with anything? Is there a brand or something that he gave you?” The two looked at him expectantly. It was a legit question. If he did bare a mark of subjugation, it would have to be removed immediately. They couldn’t take the chance for Zelko to manipulate him from afar. It could very well be their downfall.

“When he first captured me he did something to the middle of my back. I just thought he cut me just to cause injury.”

“Can I look at it for a moment?” Storm inquired.

He nodded solemnly then raised his shirt and turned so she could view his back. There was an interesting looking thin white scar across the middle of his back. Storm reached out and lightly traced the thin white scar with the tip of his finger.

“This is different from what I had,” he said. “This will compel, but it is more primitive as far as subjugation runes go. You only obey his most simple commands.” He glanced at Tegan. “I think you will be able to remove it pretty easily. Kerr is yet bound to the pack despite what that warlock thinks. His knowledge of wolves is ill at best. He should have known you couldn’t break such a bond as easily as stonewalling him from Timber Island. Another mark in our favor is that Kerr attended your ceremony. With that alone, whatever bond Zelko thought he snapped was rebuilt. It was not very smart of him to say the least. Still, with this mark, Kerr is under his control.”

“So you mean I have a chance of really curing him?” Tegan asked peering around his arm to get a good look at Kerr’s back.

“I’m not sure. You might not be able to break apart the curse completely but you can make weaken the effects. For every spell cast there is an anti-spell to it. The problem lies in discovering it. Once discovered, it’s only a matter of if you are strong enough to dispel such wicked magick. Right now, we need something that will work fast,” he told her. He didn’t know much about berserkers but he knew there was a way to contain some of that power. Since Kerr was still essentially a werewolf, there would definitely be a way to weaken his strength. At least then he will be less of a threat.

Tegan met his eyes. “What?”

“Aconite.”

Kerr hissed then whipped around on them, his eyes flashing a glowing orange before dulling back to amber yellow then back to green. “Oh, like hell! Are you trying to kill me?”

“No. But this is as close to a quick fix that I can think of at the moment. According to legend, you are nearly ten times stronger than a normal werewolf in full rage. You are blind to friend or foe. Aconite will weaken you. We can make sure that you are not exposed to a lethal dose. It should work if we devise something that you can wear, perhaps a charm of some sort. It might not be pleasant, but it is the best shot we have right now. This way you won’t be as strong if you turn.”

“Yeah, because I’ll be dead,” he retorted, trying to regain his composure.

Tegan looked between the two with bewilderment etched into her features. “What’s aconite?”

“Wolfsbane.”

Tegan’s eyebrows furrowed. “Wouldn’t that hurt me too?”

He didn’t know if it would hurt her. She was still only half wolf so it could very well have a completely different effect. What generally applies to full werewolves doesn’t necessarily apply to her. They were just going to have to find out how much lycanthropy she had inherited as they went along.

“I don’t know. But you will be very careful when you use it. We will put our heads together and think of something effective. In all likelihood, you are going to have to craft your own spell for this. Very little is known about the berserker curse. The only thing we have to go on are mostly distorted legends passed down from lips to ear. Things tend to get changed with time without being written down properly,” Storm said.

Tegan was excited about the prospect of weaving her own spell work. That much he could tell. For the past few days, he had been teaching her as well as let her cast little spells here and there. They were spells he knew wouldn’t tax her too much and would help strengthen her magickal muscle, so to speak. It would be a while before she cast anything powerful. And her inexperience would most likely hinder them in producing a cure as well.

“Do either of you know how the curse works?” she asked, looking back and forth between the two.

“From aggression is what I gather. Those have been usually the only times I change. And the full moon, of course,” Kerr answered.

Tegan thought for a moment then asked, “Is there a way for you to work out your aggression?”

“I don’t know. If I get angry in the slightest, the curse takes me and I black out. I don’t remember anything afterward. I think that is the only blessing I have with this thing. I don’t have to remember the terrible things that I’m sure I’ve committed.”

Tegan reached over and patted him on the arm. “We will figure something out. I won’t let you go through this alone. I’ll help you to the best of my ability.”

He looked down at the young witch, shaking his head. “You shouldn’t do this for me. I could be a killer for all I know. There have been mornings when I have awoken with blood on my hands and bits of flesh embedded in my nails.”

If what he said shocked her, Storm couldn’t tell. She just reached up and squeezed Kerr’s shoulder. “You don’t deserve to unwillingly be under someone’s control.”

“I know you probably feel obligated because you are the healer –”

She cut him off with a wave of her hand. “I want to help you, Kerr. I thought I made it perfectly clear yesterday when I had a showdown with your father and brother over the matter.”

He eyed her suspiciously. “I don’t understand why you would do this. You don’t know me. You don’t understand how dangerous I can be. But you offer shelter and friendship to me freely. You even disobeyed my father.”

“You are not the only one affected by this now. I have to think of Soren, too,” she said.

“You better just accepting her offer. She won’t relent on it,” Storm said lightheartedly, knowing she would not give up until she got her way.

That made her smile. “I think your brother would even attest to that. I know it ticks him off to no end that he can’t control me.”

“That it does,” Kerr agreed, a grin curving his own lips.

“I think you deserve a shot to prove yourself. Last night you could have hurt me and you didn’t. That gives me hope.”

“I had to struggle so hard to keep the berserker’s rage within me. I don’t know if I’ll be able to do it again.”

“I’m going to do what I think is right. And helping you is the right thing to do. You have no one on your side. Everyone needs at least one person to rely on. Storm and I will be here whenever you need us,” Tegan said, taking Storm’s hand in her own, seeking out comfort. He squeezed her fingers in return, letting her lean on him as much as she needed to.

~*~

The cold weather had eased off a little, warming the land and causing storms to pop up. The rain knocked the rest of the multicolored leaves off the trees leaving behind their spindly wooden skeletons. Though it was autumn, the weather was more spring-like.

Tegan was listening to the quiet drumming on the roof while she was flipping through one of her mother’s grimoires. Storm had insisted on her learning and absorbing all kinds of magickal knowledge in any free time she was given. She had already put the homemaking one to good use. She had made sure to banish spiders and mice seeking shelter from entering her home. She could well do without those unwanted tenants.

Unfortunately, dealing with the werewolves and all their problems had left little to no spare time for learning.

However, she was glad to be out of that huge house teeming with them. It was good to be out on her own – however alone you could be with a familiar and bewitched werewolf as roommates. She couldn’t really complain though. She was used to Storm’s constant presence and Kerr kept quietly to himself. He mostly stayed in his room and barely made a sound except when he was venturing to other parts of the house.

Tegan had already admitted to herself that maybe this wasn’t the brightest idea she ever had, but she couldn’t very well let Ulrick throw out his own son for something he had no control over. She briefly wondered if he will do the same thing if Soren turns out to be afflicted.

By the time the rain had eased just a little Tegan had finished with the spell book and was picking up another when there was a knock at the door. She frowned and got up from the couch. This would be her first visitor since officially moving into the residence – not counting Storm’s squatter role and Soren’s breaking and entering stint.

And speak of the devil…

She opened the door and there, standing in the soaking rain, was Soren with a bag slung over his shoulder.

“Can I help you?” she asked coldly, still angry with him.

“I’m here to stay. If Kerr is going to be living with you, I’m staying too. He is still unpredictable and I don’t want you hurt.”

“You’re scratched. Couldn’t you be unpredictable as well?”

“I still haven’t had any signs of the curse affecting me. It’s cold and wet out here so won’t you please let me in?” he asked as sweetly as he could, which – in Soren’s case – was growling it at her in an almost demand.

She stepped to the side, rolling her eyes. “Come in.”

He smiled, having gotten his way, and trotted over the threshold. He tossed the bag down on the floor. It landed next to the couch with a heavy thud. His eyes travelled around the room taking in all the work that was done to the place. He whistled, rolling back on his heels. “This little house has come a long way from the piece of shit I first walked into.” As usual, Soren had no tact about anything.

“I guess that’s a compliment coming from you, wolf-boy. If you think it’s beneath you, you can leave anytime. There’s the door, don’t let it hit you,” she retorted, pointing to the entrance he just walked through a few moments earlier.

“I didn’t say that. It’s just a lot better than what it was before.”

“What’s in the bag?” she asked, pushing at it with her bare foot.

“All the things my father could find about berserkers – books, scrolls, and such – it’s all in there.”

“Scrolls?”

“The legend dates back a long ass time ago, though no one even knew if it existed or not. Until now, that is.”

Tegan eyed the bag before she grabbed the handle to haul it up on the couch. It was heavy as hell and she had a hard time struggling to get the thing on the sofa.

“Here,” Soren said, leaning down and plucking the thing up like it was nothing. He deposited it beside her then sat down as well.

“Thanks.” She unzipped the bag and pulled out a book. She peeled back the old musty cover. Dust assaulted her nose causing her eyes to water.

“These are the only English texts he could find. There are quite a few others in various languages – Old Norse, Gaelic, Latin, French. You’re not fluent in any of those, are you?”

“Uh…no,” she said absently while digging through the bag.

“Dad is looking for people to translate them. While that is being done, he said that you can go over these if you like. I glanced through them. Most of it is pretty much common knowledge. My dad does want you to help Kerr, don’t get him wrong. But he is still pretty angry about Kerr helping that Velcro guy.”

“His name is Zelko. And Kerr had no choice but to help him. I wish you would stop trying to make him out to be the bad guy. I’m sick of repeating myself.”

“I wish you would stop trying to make Kerr an innocent little victim.”

She sighed and pulled out the rest of the books and stacked them on the coffee table then lined up the scrolls next to them.

“Those you have to be extra careful with. They have been kept intact with magick but still…they are older than you can imagine.”

“Okay. Hey, Soren?” She turned away from the information and looked at him. His brown eyes were trained on her speculatively. “How are you doing with all this?”

He ran a hand through his blond hair. “You mean possibly being infected?”

“Yeah. You haven’t really said much about it. It could very well be a possibility.”

He threw himself against the cushiony back of the couch, folding his arms against his chest. “I don’t know how I feel about it. I haven’t given much thought to the matter.”

“But what if you are? What are you going to do?”

He shrugged then gave a wry smile. “Kill myself.”

“Soren! Don’t joke about stuff like that!” she scolded angrily.

He rubbed a hand across his jaw. “I don’t know, Tegan. Even if I am, there is not much I can do. I don’t even want to think about it. I don’t want to be what Kerr is. He was dangerous and completely crazy when he changes. That is why I’m going to stay with you. I don’t want him to flip out again and hurt you.” He reached over and grabbed on to her.

“What the hell are you doing, wolf-boy?” she squeaked as he pulled her onto his lap.

He rested his head on top of hers and wrapped his arms around her wriggling torso. “Stop moving and let me hold you.”

She squirmed some more but his arms tightened on her so she stopped. “What's with this sudden interest in me, wolf-boy? A few days ago you hated me. Is it because I can wield magick? Are you going to try to exploit me because of it?”

“The truth?”

When she nodded he proceeded. “When you first got here, I thought you were going to be more of the same – just another incapable bitch. You looked as if you were green behind the ears. I didn’t think you were malicious or anything, just that you couldn’t do much of anything for us. Then after I tasted your blood that day out in the woods, I knew you were strong, that your powers were virtually untapped. I thought maybe I could use you in some way. But then you saved Vivian and when I saw the relief on her parents faces, I don’t know. It made me think of Lilah and I was happy that they didn’t have to go through that kind of pain. After that I didn’t care so much about the power. I wanted you.” He leaned down so that his lips brushed across her ear. “Just you,” he whispered.

Tegan had a sense of déjà vu when he nuzzled his nose across her cheek, slowly rubbing it back and forth. “I like you, witch, whether you feel the same way or not. And I intend to make you want me just as much as I want you. I’m not going to stop my pursuit of you until I have you to myself.”

She bit her lower lip, worrying it until it cracked and bled. The metallic flavor rushed over her tongue and she winced. The flinch didn’t go unnoticed by Soren.

“You really don’t like me that much, do you?” He sounded hurt by that.

She stopped sucking at the wound to answer him. “It’s not that. I bit my lip.”

He slid his hand to her chin and used his thump to part her lips. Blood trickled out slowly, dripping down her chin.

“You’re always gnawing on it. It’s no wonder.” He wiped away the flow with the pad of his finger and slid it into his own mouth. He stared at Tegan intensely as he savored the taste of her. “You’re just as good, if not better than the first time.”

She blushed and looked away from him, remembering what happened when he had licked away the blood from her hands after she had fallen. She hoped the same result didn’t happen this time around while she sat on his lap. Tegan would probably die of embarrassment.

“You’re place is pretty cozy now,” he said, changing the subject. He patted the couch as if to emphasize the coziness. “I wouldn’t really mind staying here.”

“You know, I’m running out of room to house all of you. I hope you werewolves don’t think this is going to be your new hangout or boardinghouse or something.”

“What can I say? We’ve grown rather attached to you. Now, what room will I be staying in?”

“Who said you could stay with me?”

“I did.”

“If you think you can boss your way around in my home, you’ve another thing coming, buddy. I’ll kick your furry butt right back out in the freezing rain.” She finally wiggled her way off his lap and bounced away before he could grab her again.

Soren cocked a brow. “Oh, you will?”

“Yeah, I will.”

“I’m a lot stronger than you, witch. I’d like to see you try.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Why do you always have to bully your way around? Would it kill you to once be civil and ask for something instead of just taking?”

He grinned devilishly at Tegan. “It might.”

“You know what, I’m tired and I’m not going to argue with you all night.” She went over to the stairs, stopping at the bottom to look back at him. “I’m going to bed.”

“What about me?”

“Sleep on the floor!”

“Why can’t we share your bed? I could keep you nice and warm,” he murmured lasciviously, waggling his eyebrows around.

“Sorry, Fido. I wouldn’t want you getting fur all over my brand new comforter.” She stuck her tongue out at him then darted up the stairs before he got up and went after her. “Night, wolf-boy!” she yelled from the top of the banister. “And don’t you dare eat all the food in my new fridge.” She closed her bedroom door to the sound of his ringing laughter.