Page 513 of Once Upon a Fable

A low-pitched growl sounded, wrenching my head up, coming face-to-face with Fang. He’d leaped to his feet, his sharp teeth visible as his gums pulled back in warning.

Gem’s eyes popped open, sleep fading as she went to look behind her, flinching at the warning rumble coming from Fang. “What’s he doing? What’s wrong?”

“Don’t move.” I held her down with my hand on her shoulder, never taking my eyes off the dog. We shared a long stare. I cocked my head; he cocked his. I looked at Gem, he looked at where I touched her.

I risked another bite as I leaned down and kissed Gemma on the cheek.

“Kas...what’s he growling at?”

“Me.” I rose again, never taking my eyes off Fang. “He’s growling at me.”

“Okay, well that’s not good.” She tried rolling over again, but I stopped her. “We’ll put him in the living room. He has his own bed. He’ll be fine.” Gem sat up, her breasts bare and eyes blinking back tiredness.

Fang instantly stopped growling. Licking his muzzle, any sign of aggression faded and he lay back down again, looking damn right pleased with himself.

Huh.

He’d threatened me while he’d deemed her at risk, yet he’d stood down the moment he knew she was aware.

Fuck.

I stood staring at that damn dog.

I understood him.

Iwashim.

A crazy laugh spilled from my lips.

“What are you laughing at?” Gem threw me a scowl. “This isn’t funny, Kas. He’s been the best boy through all his treatment and outings today but if he’s aggressive, then he can’t be trusted.”

My laughter faded.

I crawled onto the bed and smacked a kiss onto Fang’s head. “Thank you.”

The dog yawned with a whine as if to say“took you long enough, idiot.”

Flopping onto my back, I yanked off my towel and slipped under the covers nude.

Gem’s eyebrows rose. “What...what are you doing?”

“I’m sleeping in here with you. Forever if you’ll have me.”

“But you literally just said—”

“That was before.”

“Before what?”

“Before I understood what Fang was telling me.”

Gem looked between the dog and me, the big bed crowded with all three of us. She sighed, shaking her head. “Forgive me if I sound stupid, my brain has already gone to sleep, but what precisely did the dog say to you?”

“He told me he has my back.”

“He told you that.”

“In not so many words, but yes.” I ruffled Fang’s head as he licked my wrist.