If only I weren’t keenly aware that even after many years of trying, patience was never going to be one of my virtues.
“Stubborn as a gods-damned mule,” Kendrick muttered as he pushed the wheelchair Dr. Atling insisted I use during my recovery.
It was a weird time for my body where we desperately had to balance my healing with maintaining the wards. I kept Kendrick’s torque around my neck and it drank down any excess energy I had, but I was thankfully very easy to replenish. Awell-placed touch or sweep of lips against my throat and the gold would spark, absorbing the rush of excitement my body instantly converted to power.
I didn’t mind taking a normal human amount of time to heal if it let us keep the wards standing.
“I could’ve done this myself,” Kendrick insisted.
“I still want to be part of things.”
The predators had their time outside and now it was time for the prey shifters. I was the only Protector besides Kendrick who didn’t wig them out on an instinctual level. The fluffle was chilling in a pile, bunny heads popping up among squirrels and other rodents.
My little squirrel friend from the library, Tilly, came rushing over, scaling my leg and all the way up my body to tuck herself under my hair.Are you okay?
“I’m doing just fine,” I promised. “The chair is because I get tired easily.”
She pressed her nose and paws against my cheek.Are you going to play with us?
“I’ll be watching, but not participating today.”
She hopped onto my lap, giving me her best approximation of a squirrel pout.I’ll run extra fast for you.
“I’ll be cheering you on from right here.”
Tilly scurried back over to her friends.
They love you. Kendrick’s thoughts swept over me.
I plucked his hand off the chair handle and set it on my skin so I had an easier time communicating with him.The feeling is mutual.
He swept his thumb along the back of my neck, the torque sparking beneath his touch, goosebumps racing down my arms, my omega perfume intensifying.Rude of you to be a temptation when I can’t do a damn thing about it right now.
Does that mean youwantto do something about it later?My body thrilled at the idea. Guilt was part of the sensation, but it was easier to ignore than usual.
You’re in recovery.The movement of his thumb paused.I’m not in a headspace where I can handle seeing the marks of my antlers on your skin. Guilt is a pretty spectacular mood killer.
I couldn’t fault that.
“Organize by species,” Kendrick ordered. “Races start in two minutes. You’ll run to the tree and back. First one to tap Protector Logan wins.”
He positioned me in perfect eyeline of the same big tree the predators had used in their race, but about a hundred feet back. Everyone tidied themselves into groups: rabbits, squirrels, mice, raccoons, and a few assorted that would run together.
“Are you going to run too?” I asked Kendrick.
“Our other ungulates will be coming out later. We don’t want to risk anyone getting trampled. I’ll run with them.”
“Fair enough.”
Kendrick let out a sharp whistle and the rabbits took off, sprinting over the grass, using the tree as a springboard to change direction. A sweet little orange one sailed through the air ahead of the rest, crashing onto my lap.
She peeked up at me with big brown eyes.Did I win?
“You definitely did.”
She let out an excited squeak, hopped down, and celebrated with a handful of binkies that melted my heart.
Kendrick moved me closer to the tree, mindful of the bunnies. His next whistle sent the squirrels off. I could’ve died of cuteness seeing their little tails above the grass, tiny bodies leaping, almost reminiscent of dolphins in the sea.
