Chapter 25

Julia

I was sitting a few feet away from the pool, trying not to worry that someone was threatening me, or about how tense Gryph had seemed. Watching the kids laugh and play helped take my mind off my problems. The pure joy of those children allowed me to relax some. My focus was on them until I heard Gryph’s howl.

Turning, my eyes immediately found him on the hill. All I could see was the yellow of his eyes piercing the night. An ache started deep in my chest as I recognized the wolf’s longing. Until then, I’d never felt the wolf calling to me. I’d seen hints of that part of Gryph when his eyes glowed yellow, but I’d never felt the wolf as much as I did in that moment. Now, I fully sensed them both, and they called to me.

It shouldn’t have been possible. Every witch would argue it couldn’t happen, but my magic was drawn to Gryph, as if pulled by an invisible force. The crimson tendrils of my magic flowed through the air toward Gryph until they wrapped around his body, illuminating the hill. With the lack of lighting and the distance between us, I shouldn’t have been able to make out much, but as my power moved along the wolf’s fur, I saw him clearly.

To most, the wolf would have been a frightening sight. He was huge with black fur and glowing yellow eyes. As my magic surrounded him, I suddenly saw the image of Gryph as a man standing behind him, his green eyes burning into me.

“This is impossible,” I breathed out. “I must be losing my mind.”

“Are you okay?” Lauren asked from my side. I hadn’t even heard her approach.

All I could do was nod numbly as I continued to stare at the werewolf, his two halves visible to me. My magic was swirling around both forms, essentially testing his werewolf magic. I was afraid of what this meant. No witch’s magic had ever chosen someone who didn’t have at least some witch blood. Naturally, there were love matches, but never magical bonds. I didn’t know of anyone who would even agree to perform an affinity test between a witch and a werewolf, knowing it would end in disaster. Certainly, my own family would never agree to it. So, the fact that the impossible was happening scared me.

At the same time, I was also elated. When a witch’s magic found its perfect complement, it caused a rush of endorphins to be released into their body. I’d heard it was one of the most intense sensations, and I had to agree.

I couldn’t look away for a long time. All I could do was focus on the way the blues from his magic and the reds from mine appeared purple as they swirled around each other.

Gryph pulled away first, disappearing into the woods again. Losing that contact created an ache in me, and my magic reached out to him again. My magic wanted to bond with his, something that should be impossible.

I don’t know how long I sat there, waiting for Gryph to return. Lost in my thoughts, it was hard to keep track of what was happening around me, let alone the passage of time. I felt Gryph’s approach before I saw him. My power seemed to vibrate with every step he took as if some tendrils of my magic were snared with his.

“Are you ready to go, Sass?” he asked, his voice rough.

I nodded and turned to look at him. “Did you feel what happened?”

He nodded. “We felt it.”

Hearing him use that pronoun confirmed that he and his wolf were separate but one. It seemed my magic didn’t recognize Gryph alone as our match. Until his wolf had been more in control, my magic had rejected him. I’d needed to see his wolf in the forefront. Only then did my magic react to him—to both sides of him.

“Your magic was warm and soothing,” he added.

“This isn’t possible,” I repeated because I apparently needed the reminder.

Gryph’s brow scrunched in confusion. “What’s not possible?”

My assumption that Gryph would recognize what had just happened between us was foolish. He’d felt my magic, but he had no clue what it meant. “I’m not sure what just happened. When my magic reached out to you, it was almost like I was standing in front of you. I could see your wolf, and I saw you standing beside him.” I decided to leave out the part about my magic connecting with him. Before I spoke, I needed to mull over what had happened and perhaps get some advice on it.

Gryph moved to my left side so he could slip his arm around my shoulders. “You look pale, Sass.” There was no missing the concern in his voice.

I nodded and smiled up at him. “It’s been one hell of a day,” was all I could think to say.

“That it has,” he agreed. “Were you okay hanging out with the vampires while I went for my run?”

It seemed we were going to make small talk. I wondered if that was because Gryph sensed my unease over what had happened or if he was also uneasy. It could be either.

“They’re really nice,” I replied as he guided me back toward his home.

“Thanks for having us over,” he called out to Ray.

“Any time,” Ray replied. “It was great meeting you, Julia.”

“I enjoyed meeting you, too,” I replied before looking around for Lauren who was nowhere to be seen. “Tell Lauren I said thank you.”

“Will do,” Ray called back.

“This is the first time I’ve been around vampires for more than a few minutes,” I admitted when we reached Gryph’s front door. “They aren’t at all what I’d expected.”

Gryph released me to open the door. “From what I can tell, most aren’t like the ones in this particular part of the subdivision. I wasn’t sure about making friends with them at first. Vampires don’t have the best reputation.”

“Don’t forget, the smell also bothers you,” I added.

“Yeah, they do smell dead to me. That part drives my wolf side crazy,” he admitted. “It took some getting used to, but it’s worth it. Ray and Lauren are good people trying to live their lives in peace.”

“There’s a lot I don’t know about most preternatural creatures,” I admitted. “I know a little about demons and fallen angels but next to nothing about werewolves. I’m sorry if I was insensitive to you because of that.”

I’d followed Gryph into the kitchen where I was certain he’d be looking for something to eat after his run. Sure enough, he pulled out a tub of pasta and started to heat it up. “You want some dessert, Sass?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Lauren offered me some brownies she’d made. It seems strange that vampires cook, but I guess they need to keep the humans living among them fed.”

“Yeah, those kids can really put away the food,” Gryph added. “The blood donors seem to eat a lot, too.”

“How is it I’ve never seen you in wolf form before tonight?” I asked casually.

When Gryph turned to face me with his bowl of pasta, he looked intense, and the yellow was swirling in the pale green of his eyes. “My wolf doesn’t reason things out as well, so I try to keep him away from you. It’s just better that way.”

“You think you’ll hurt me in wolf form?” I asked. For some reason, my entire being rejected that idea. His wolf would never hurt me. My magic had moved along the wolf, and there was no malice toward me.

“It’s not that I think he’ll hurt you,” Gryph began. “He’s just ruled more by instinct. It’s harder for him to reason things out. To my wolf, you’re our mate. Lately, he’s begun to understand you don’t want to assume that role. It’s not easy for him.”

“I always thought you were the wolf,” I said softly.

“I am, and I’m not,” he began. “We’re two souls inhabiting the same space and sharing the same power.”

“Why did you let me see your wolf tonight?” I asked.

“He needed to see you,” I began. “I needed to see you. When I stopped on that hill, I never expected you to notice I was there. It’s a good thing you weren’t close enough to see much. If you think I’m scary looking in this form, you should see me as a wolf. He looks like a fucking hellhound.”

I laughed at his description. “Trust me when I tell you that your wolf looks nothing like a hellhound.”

“How would you know?” he asked.

“I saw your wolf form,” I admitted. “Not just the outline. It was like I was standing there.”

“When your magic touched me?” he asked, his voice rough with arousal at the memory.

I nodded. “Your wolf is powerful and alluring, just like this form.”

“And with glowing red eyes, he’d look like a hellhound,” Gryph added.

I shook my head. “I’ve met Lucifer’s hellhounds when his daughter was dog sitting.”

“You know the devil’s daughter?” he asked slowly.

“Not well, but I’ve spoken to her a few times,” I explained. “I’ve never actually met Lucifer, something I’m thankful for, but his daughter seems nice.”

“And his hellhounds?” he asked.

“Annoying little puffs of white fur that yap all the time,” I told him.

Gryph let out a roar of laughter that seemed to lighten both our moods. He didn’t look convinced Lucifer’s hellhounds were little yapper dogs, but that didn’t matter. What mattered was how relaxed and sexy Gryph looked when he laughed. I loved seeing him like this.

Oh. My. God. I was in serious trouble, and it had nothing to do with the threats to me.