Page 77 of Rising Reign

Pink hit her cheeks. “Thank you.”

I brushed my lips over hers as she reached the bottom step. She returned the kiss but ended it quickly and put some distance between us. I frowned. That wasn’t like Wren. She always welcomed simple touches, the ones that connected us.

“Better get in there. Dinner’s ready,” she said, hurrying away.

I glanced at Kingston, who was frowning after her. “That was weird, right?”

He nodded. “Her wolf might be on edge with so many people in the house.”

“Maybe.” But that didn’t seem right. She’d been fine this morning.

I wound my way into the dining room, which was already packed with people, and made a beeline for the open seat next to Wren. She shifted slightly as I sat, looking almost uncomfortable.

“Are you okay?” I whispered.

Wren glanced my way for a moment before looking back at the food at the center of the table. “Of course.”

That only had my frown deepening.

“Okay, everyone,” Puck said, calling us all to order. “I have been working all afternoon on this feast, so you’d better appreciate it.”

Everyone laughed.

“You know I will,” Juan said, patting his stomach.

Puck just shook his head and picked up a glass of wine. “To my sister. Thank you for coming all this way and for always having my back. I love you.”

Everyone raised their glasses and echoed sentiments of welcome. We dove into the Italian feast Puck had created. There was pasta, gnocchi, meatballs, chicken cacciatore, garlic bread, and Caesar salad. It was truly a feast worthy of royalty. But I would’ve enjoyed it a hell of a lot more if I wasn’t so worried about Wren.

She was quiet through dinner, pasting on a smile when someone engaged her, but otherwise, she seemed to pull inward as if some tangle of thoughts held her captive. She nibbled at her food but didn’t eat nearly enough for my liking. And as I studied her, I realized a flush had spread over her skin as the night wore on.

“Wren,” I whispered, taking her hand. I’d meant to ask her if she was feeling okay, but the moment I touched her, I realized her skin was scorching. “You’re burning up.”

I leaned in to put a hand to her brow, but that’s when I scented it. The heady edge to her wildflowers-and-rain aroma. One that had me tipping into a haze. “Heat,” I rasped. “You’re in heat.”

The whole room froze.

45

WREN

Energy crackled through the air at Locke’s words, but I couldn’t find it in me to care. My head swam, and my skin felt like I’d laid out under the blistering sun for far too long. Everything in me hurt.

I’d only been through a heat a handful of times in my life, but it had never been this bad before. Normally, I took ibuprofen and called off work for a couple of days, but that was it. Now, I felt like I was dying.

It was Ender who moved first. He knocked his chair back, striding around the table and lifting me from mine.

I let out a moan of half pain, half pleasure. Just the feeling of his arms around me felt as if every nerve ending had awoken, including ones I didn’t even know I had.

Ender cursed as some part of me became aware of Franco asking what was wrong. But his voice sounded so far away.

“Get her upstairs,” King barked.

That voice was closer, and I wanted more of it. I wanted to feel the vibrations against my skin like endless fingertips.

I twisted in Ender’s arms and cried out.

“Holy hell,” Puck swore. “How did we miss this?”