Wolves' Bane (The Order of the Wolf, #3)(43)

He lowered his head into his hand and sighed again. It was no use. He needed to wall himself up, remove his emotions, seal away his desire. He couldn’t touch her. In fact, he didn’t even trust himself to train with her. He’d have to ask Lance to continue training her, at least until Cal got his emotions under control.

Jealousy flared at the thought, his mind screaming against such a ludicrous idea. Mine. My Huntress.

He shook his head as he rose from the bed, giving one last look of longing over his shoulder. Her blanket draped over her curves like a white spill of snow, creating hills and valleys over flesh that he craved to touch again. He jerked his gaze away and moved toward the dresser that held his clothes. He needed to get some sleep, and even though his instinct bellowed for him to get back into bed with her, he would force himself to go over to the barracks where the other Hunters slept.

At least there, he wouldn’t be tempted to rouse her so that he could take her again.

No, down there he’d just have to face the jeers from the others, taunting and teasing that he hadn’t bonded yet, at least until the truth came out, and then they would all stare at him with pity. Cal, the cursed Hunter with the bride of Lazarus. If she hadn’t been connected to the king, maybe things could have been different. If she hadn’t been marked as his bride, she wouldn’t be at risk for betraying them.

And yet, she was. She was.

Cal shuffled into his clothes, reluctantly slipping on his boots before making his way to the door. He forced himself to move, leave the room and not look back. He’d gotten what he wanted. She was bonded—she was safe. Now the real fight began.

He closed the door behind him and lowered his head for a moment, taking in deep breaths to quell the rising urge to vomit. He’d never imagined it would be this difficult. Every step he took away from her felt unnatural, wrong. And yet he had to keep going. The Order demanded it, history had proven it. It wasn’t fair, but it had to be.

Morgan was marked for death. If Cal had to deliver her to that fate, he would, because it was his duty to do so.





Chapter Twenty





Training


It was odd to wake up without Cal there. My body craved his presence, his warmth. I knew that I’d fallen asleep with him curled behind me. In fact, I knew that I had fallen asleep because he had etched a spell on me.

Now, why would he do that? I wondered as I cracked open my eyes and rolled over, figuring he was in the shower. Maybe I’ll join him in there. I stretched out my arms and yawned. My gaze fell on the open door to the bathroom and I frowned.

“Cal?” I pushed myself up to sit, the blanket that covered me falling to my lap. “Cal, are you in there?”

No answer. The silence of the room enveloped me suddenly, making me realize I was alone. Where had he gone? I ran my hand through my hair, snagging my fingers on a few knots. Better get cleaned up. He’s probably downstairs getting something to eat.

Without you?

My mind warred with the growing sense that something was very wrong, but I brushed it away. If Cal was gone, he had a good reason.

I rose from the bed, not caring that I was naked as I strode to the bathroom. The pains from the day before were gone. My body felt rejuvenated, powerful. I glanced quickly into the mirror and checked myself for any bruises from Jimmy’s violent touch. Nothing. I was healed—better than healed, I was bonded, and I finally understood why that was such a big deal.

I quickly hopped into the shower, my sense of urgency to find Cal propelling me to hurry. During my sleep, I had dreamt many things, like a flood of information that confirmed what I had already learned about being a Huntress. The history, the legacy and a profound understanding of my duty. I would kill the beast, even if it meant my own death was the price.

I understood my powers, my gift from Cal—the ability to etch magic symbols. I felt it running through me like a hum of electricity as I glided my hands over my slick body, which in itself was another marvel. My muscles, slack over the past few months of inactivity, were back. I was toned all over. My hands skimmed over the definition of my abs and the cut of my arms. I had bulked up too, but not in a gross way. I ran my fingers over my breasts, which were still plump and heavy, maybe a little perkier than before, and my hips, which were still shapely. I would still appeal to my Hunter.

I smiled at that, remembering Cal’s touch from the night before. I craved him as I circled my nipples with my fingers, pinching as the water cascaded over my sensitive flesh. My sex throbbed for him. It was disappointing that he had left before I woke. I could think of a million things I wanted to do that would satisfy both of our needs.

The thought of him leaving me quelled my desire, and I hurried to rinse the conditioner from my hair. Just seeing him would help alleviate some of my anxiety.

I toweled off and quickly threw on some comfortable clothes. With the battle against Lazarus approaching, I assumed that some hardcore training needed to happen. Even though I understood the magic and I was physically stronger, I had no idea how to wield a weapon or how to use my body to defend and attack. Cal would have to train me. It was his duty and it would mean hours of being together.

That thought warmed me. I hadn’t expected to love him, not immediately, but I was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming need to just be with him. As much as it was driving me to near insanity now, I knew he must be feeling the same thing. The bond couldn’t work just one way.