I had put together a logical, convincing speech, but all of that seemed stupid now.

“The inn has to come first,” I said. “The safety of the guests before the safety of the innkeeper.”

He didn’t say anything.

“It’s a weird life. Once you bond with the inn, you can never truly leave. Even if you do, you still feel the pull of it. Some people view it as being trapped and they can’t wait to get out. It can get boring when there are no guests. Then again, when there are guests, it can get so busy you barely have a chance to sleep. Sometimes guests want unreasonable things. Some of them listen to you explain the danger and then run straight into it. But that’s your life. You take care of the inn. You keep them safe. They leave and you stay. Always.”

He still wasn’t saying anything.

I took a deep breath. “This is what I chose. Right or wrong, I’m here. This is my home.”

Why was this so hard? I just had to say it. Even if he got up and walked away, at least I would know where we stood.

“If you’re going to be an innkeeper with me—“

He pulled me closer. My voice caught. I swallowed and kept going. “—you would have to put the safety of the guests first. I will follow your lead in a fight. I won’t argue or beg. I won’t ask you to change your strategy. But this life would have to be enough, because I can’t unchoose it. If that’s not what you want…”

He didn’t say anything. It felt like a lifetime. The air was viscous and heavy, like I was swimming through molasses.

I raised my gaze. He was looking at me, his amber eyes full of flames from the fire. “But would I get you, if I were an innkeeper?”

“Yes.”

“That’s all I want.”

The weight dropped off me. I didn’t realize I was carrying it. I kissed him. One moment I was looking at him and then my lips touched his, forging a connection between us.

The muscles of his arm tightened under my fingers. His lips closed on mine, hot and hungry. The kiss deepened, turning possessive, hot, heady like the intoxicating heat of strong wine gulped too quickly. He licked my tongue. He tasted so good. I slid my arms around him, wanting more. I didn’t care if the whole galaxy burned, as long as he kept kissing me like that.

He broke the kiss. His eyes were completely wild. The wolf was staring back at me and he wanted me more than anything in his forest. It made me feel beautiful.

“Not tonight,” he said. “You’re not in the right place tonight.”

He was right. I slid closer to him and put my head on his chest. “Okay.”

A few seconds passed.

“I’m an idiot,” Sean said. He sounded resigned.

“No,” I told him. “You’re my wolf.”

He turned to me and a sharp humorous spark lit up his eyes. “Don’t you know wolves are dangerous?”

“I do. You should kiss me again, Sean Evans. I really want you to.”

He kissed me back and I melted into it.

CHAPTER 10

“Aunt Dina,” a whisper floated into my ear.

My eyes snapped open. Helen was leaning over me, her hair all but glowing in the light of the early morning. I was laying on the pillows by a dead fire. The last thing I remembered was curling up next to Sean on the couch, but now I was on the floor on a blanket, with a pillow under my head, and another blanket over me. He must’ve moved me after I fell asleep. I glanced right. I glanced left. A second pillow lay next to me, the indentation from Sean’s head still on it.

“What time is it?”

“Just after sunrise.”

“Why are you here and not in your room?” Helen asked.

I opened my mouth.

Helen sniffed the air, wrinkling her nose. “And why is Lord Sean hiding on the balcony?”

Lord Sean chose that moment to walk back into view, since further hiding was clearly pointless.

Helen frowned. “Were you having private time?”

Um, ah… eh.

“Mom says private time is very important.”

“Where is your mom?”

“She’s outside. She said to find you right away because ‘that cop is about to go middle evil on Mrak.’”

I bolted off the floor. “Window to the front!”

A window opened in the wall. Maud stood at the edge of the inn’s boundary, her back stiff, her arms crossed, looking across the street. On the other side of the road, the small rectangular metal cover guarding access to the water and sewer lay open. Kiran Mrak and three other Draziri, swaddled in hoodies and jeans, stood on the left side. On the right side, stood Officer Marais, one hand on his Taser.

I squeezed my eyes shut for a tiny moment and opened them. Officer Marais and the Draziri were still there.

“Shut off all water and sewer!” I sprinted out of the room and down the massive staircase. Sean swore and ran past me. Helen chased us, jumped onto the stair rail, and slid down, leaping to her feet at the bottom.

Why? Why in the world would Marais even be here the day after Christmas? Did he not have a family to go home to? Why couldn’t I catch a break?

Sean grabbed my hand. “Dina, open the void field. I’ll double behind them.”

“Done.”

His eyes flashed amber. “Please stay on the grounds. I want them to see you.”

“Okay.”

I tore through the house, pushed the door open, and marched across the lawn to where Maud stood. Beast trailed me.