Hood's Obsession Read Online Free PDF Page B

arrive just as the sun starts to set.”
    He scratched his jaw, stared up at the sky for a moment, and then nodded. “I’ve been attempting to make sense of the riddles your mother gave us last night.”
    “And?” She cocked her head, giving him a lopsided grin at the tiny scowl stamped on his forehead.
    “And I’m afraid I understood none of it, other than that I am to treat you with kindness and make sure you return to your brothers and father in one piece, lest they shove my balls down my throat. That, at least,” he held up a finger, “I understood quite well.”
    Snickering, she tucked a curl of hair behind her ear. “Truer words have never been spoken.”
    They walked for many hours after that in silence, more interested in getting to where they needed to go than in learning one another, stopping only four hours later when hunger finally forced them to pause just outside of her clan’s glen.
    Remembering her mother’s words, Lilith spread the blanket out on the ground. “I have magic,” she began without preamble, looking directly at Giles, who was currently pulling the mounds of food from the basket.
    He glanced up at her. “You are the daughter of the Heartsong. I’m not surprised to hear it.”
    She narrowed her eyes. Plopping onto a corner of the blanket, she snatched up an entire loaf of bread. Her body craved carbs with an almost obsessive nature. She’d been frozen into her woman’s form last year, and so couldn’t age or grow in any way.
    Unless she was in heat, then and only then would her body alter, though only temporarily.
    The call of the wild demanded she gave into the wolf’s instinct of making herself more alluring to her partner. Which meant putting on more feminine curves, rounder hips, plumper breasts—it was the sign of a good breeder. Though she had no intentions of becoming a breeder for anyone, she aimed to remain an independent woman responsible to no man.
    She ripped into her hunk of bread.
    “Plan to explain what that loaf of bread did to you to deserve such an ignominious end?” Giles asked then took a bite out of his wedge of cheese. His deliveries were dry, but there was no doubt he teased her.
    Giving him the evil eye she ripped yet another chunk out of its yeasty hide and munched on it much like a masticating cow.
    He snickered, but switched subjects. “We’ve kept up a good pace, but I’ve no desire to remain in shifter territory with an enflamed bitch during the night.”
    “Call me a bitch one more time, demon, and I’ll rip your tongue out,” she snarled with a hint of gravel in her words.
    He blinked. “I’d assumed that was the proper terminology for a female wolf. No offense meant.”
    “I’m just sure, you demonic imp.” She crammed the rest of the loaf into her mouth, not caring one whit how unladylike it made her look. “But I’ll concede that while I’m in heat, it is probably best I sleep indoors or underground as much as possible. The monsters that would come for me right now would be a wee bit too much for you to handle.”
    He notched his knee, resting his elbow on it. His grin was faint, but there. “I can handle myself just fine, and besides, wasn’t it I that rescued you?”
    Snapping her teeth at him, she snatched up another chunk of bread. Mother had packed four large rolls, just enough for her to make it through lunch. “You do vex me.”
    His eyes sparkled but he didn’t say another word.
    They settled into a somewhat soothing silence after that, eating the entire contents of the basket, which for humans may have lasted two to three days. She liked a man with an appetite; most creatures couldn’t keep up with the demands of the wolf. At least in that she could not mock him.
    “What is that?” He pointed to her chest.
    Glancing down, she noted that the amulet was now on full display. Clutching the cold glass, she wetted her lips. “Fairy charm. Good for one wish and one wish only. I suppose Mother thought we’d get into a