Page 77 of Wedding the Werepanther

“It’s a big reason I fell in love with video games. I got to make all the decisions when I played. If a cavewight jumps out at me, I can shoot a Fireball Spell or duck into a different cave—Iget to choose, not him.” I rub my cheek against his shoulder. “So I understand. I really do. Designing video games feels like the ultimate freedom. I get to be exactly who I want to be. Creating worlds and magic systems and adventures is more than a job. It’s the first thing that ever allowed me to beme.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through all of that.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “But I’m also glad you understand.”

We lie together in comfortable silence, but his earlier words still haunt me. “You said you feel guilty about leaving home. Is there anything that will help with that?”

“You saw them.” He sighs. “They’re still living at the den as panthers unable to shift, when all of Faerie should be their playground.”

“You want more for them.”

“I do.”

I say, “You’ll figure out something that helps them.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because it’s something you want.” I huff in amusement. “And after the way you followed me around for a year, I’m pretty sure ‘giving up’ isn’t in your vocabulary.”

“What can I say? I play to win.” His rich chuckle rolls through me.

There he goes, talking about his pursuit of me in terms of winning again. But we’ve also shared a feeling of mutual understanding, and he clearly loves his family. I sigh internally. I’m not going to solve the puzzle that is Shadow tonight.

But I also don’t have to. Shadow’s rubbing off on me in several ways. I’m trying to embrace his ability to live in the present and have fun. As Violeta and Jasmine said, even if this turns out to be a fling, it’s something I shouldenjoyinstead of spiraling into a ball of anxiety all the time. So when he pulls me closer, I snuggle against his chest.

After a while, the night air grows even cooler, and a stronger gust makes me shiver.

“Let’s get you home.” Shadow stands and gathers our things. He dresses me in his shirt, the only piece of clothing to survive the night, and hands me our phones. Cradling me in his arms, he runs the shadow roads, not stopping until we emerge into Victoria’s entryway.

Dewdrop gives a sleepy chirp of hello from the living room as Shadow sets me on my feet.

The light flickers overhead, and Victoria writes,“Where have you been? I couldn’t feel you at all.”

My idea worked—she has no idea we consummated. I share a triumphant smile with Shadow, then say, “Shadow took me to meet his family in Faerie.”

“I also asked them to attend the wedding this weekend,” he adds.

“And you didn’t doanythingelse?”

The house might not have eyes, but I can feel her staring at us, judging his nakedness and my improvised mini dress. A blush heats my cheeks, and I get ready to stammer out some kind of denial. God, I hate that I’m always such a sucky liar.

Shadow beats me to it, grinning his façade grin as he lies. “Nothing else.”

“I don’t believe you.”

The sound of locks clicking into place echoes throughout the house.

Here we go again.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Kayla

“Come on, Victoria.” I pour a cup of coffee and take a big gulp. I need a helluva lot of caffeine if I’m going to continue this argument. “It’s been two days. You can’t keep us locked up like this!”

“Of course I can.”Smugness fills the kitchen.

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to hold off a headache. My excellent idea for snatching back a bit of freedom has backfired. Victoria might not know Shadow and I had sex while in Faerie, but she can sense that something happened. Why did I have to create a sentient house that’s also flipping smart?

I switch to a new tactic, since weddings are so important to her. “How’s Shadow supposed to get everything ready for the wedding if he can’t go anywhere?”