Chasing a Wolf: Moonbound Series, Book Four Read Online Free PDF

stared into the dark. His voice dropped like a brick in the night. “She is your wife.”
    Tomás choked on his breath and jumped to his feet. “My what?”
    “Your wife,” he repeated. “You should not speak crudely about your wife.”
    “No.” Tomás backed up until the rock stopped his steps and sat down. “There was no…I mean, all we did was…”
    “You claimed her.” The warrior stood and wiped at his legs. “She claimed you. This is the way the gods,” he made the volcano sign, “would have it.”
    But the reluctance in his voice told Tomás their fight wasn’t over. He recognized that certain kind of hurt that was too deep to put into words. It was the edge under every move Zolin made.
    “I didn’t claim anybody.” He sat on the rock and considered whether he should reach out to offer some sign of friendship.
    Only they weren’t friends. Still, the broken look on the man’s face. He hadn’t stopped staring into the dark since the fight had stopped. Something was knocking around in his head.
    “You did,” Zolin said. “That’s what the sex tent is for.”
    Tomás couldn’t stop the chortle of a laugh that burst out of him. “You said the sex tent was for reading the magick.”
    “Yes, and when you find your mate, you claim her and she is yours.”
    A brave bird began to caw in the distance. In this kind of thick dark, any sound was an announcement. The two men continued to sit in silence, as though they waited for the jungle to join the conversation.
    Tomás fumbled for his backpack and heard one of the straps lap into the stream. He’d forgotten they were so close to the water. It was lucky they hadn’t pushed each other into it, although the cool water wouldn’t have been altogether unwelcome in the muggy night.
    He dug around for his phone. He needed to see what time it was. Maggie would be expecting him to check in with a phone call when he got back to Choaca, but he hadn’t anticipated the detour or the sex tent…or the wife.
    When he found the device, he tried to flip it on, but it wouldn’t light.
    The power button made a little chirping noise when he turned it on, not unlike the brave calling bird. The sound echoed around them.
    “I just need to speak with your village elders.”
    “Yes, I know of your quest.” Zolin’s voice was still low and dark. “And you would have spoken with them if you hadn’t married the Chief’s daughter.”
    “Whoa.” He held up one hand. “How about we stick with defiled?”
    The warrior grunted and went searching for his spear.
    Tomás’ phone filled the small area with light. 1:14. Still several hours before morning light. He shone the light toward where Zolin’s hands finally found his spear.
    “I’ll give her back,” Tomás said. “All I want is information.”
    Only that wasn’t strictly true anymore, and every part of his heart knew it. He wasn’t quite at the let’s fuck in the airplane bathroom mode, but Lani was gorgeous, and mysterious, and most of all, she had asked for his help. She may be a quiet one, but she had hidden depths. He could just tell.
    He turned the light to find her. He needed to see if she’d heard his suggestion that he return her to Zolin. She wouldn’t be too hap…
    Wait. Where is she?
    Tomás flashed the light in the other direction, then toward the stream. Nowhere. He swiped at the phone to get the flashlight to work and shone the beam all around the clearing.
    Nowhere.
    “What are you doing?” Zolin barked. “Turn that off before a predator sees us.”
    “Lani,” Tomás yelled into the jungle. “Lani, where are you?”
    The translator took a step toward where the light shone. “The princess. Where is she?”
    “That’s just it.” He made one more swoop of the area before switching off the flashlight and then his phone. “I think she’s gone.”
    “Gone?” He lifted his spear and walked forward. But Tomás couldn’t see him well. His eyes needed time to adjust to the