Fae-ted to the Bear - Harmony Raines Page 0,67

Karros and find out how he was feeling. She was so happy for him. If only his meeting with Zara had come under better circumstances.

A lump of emotion welled in Elise’s throat and she blinked back tears. She needed to focus instead of dissolving into a pool of emotion. The sooner they figured this out and dealt with any threat to Zara, the sooner they could all get on with their lives.

“How are you doing?” Caleb’s gentle tone nearly pushed her over the edge, but she stifled a sob.

“I’m so happy for him, I can hardly breathe. I just wish we weren’t here under these circumstances. Why couldn’t they have just met when Zara visited Wishing Moon Bay without this threat hanging over them?”

“We don’t get to choose the circumstances when we meet our true love,” Caleb replied sagely. “But we should both realize that we’ve all come together like this at this time for a reason.”

“Karros is here because Zara needs him.” She nudged him playfully. “And you met me because you needed me.”

He smothered a smile. “I have needed you all my life.”

“Cute cover-up.” She tilted her head to one side and studied him. “You know what I mean.”

“I do. When Flora and Aiden met, it was because she needed him. But maybe this time it’s the other way around. I need you.” He pointed at her. “Although, you did need me to get you a job with Ivan.”

“I concede that point.” She bowed her head. “And maybe it’s just better if we realize we do need each other. It’s not something we have to keep score of.”

“Right. Let’s go inside and test our acting skills.” He kissed her cheek, inhaling deeply as her hair brushed his face. There was something incredibly sexy about having a man love every part of you.

And she loved every part of him.

He pushed the door open and went inside. After a moment she followed, trying to compose her thoughts and emotions which had been all over the place since she’d met Caleb. Her once calm life was gone, it was as if she’d been cast out onto a tumultuous ocean in a rickety boat. Yet she knew while there was breath in Caleb’s body, she would never fall overboard or lose her way.

“Okay. Are you ready?” Caleb asked and she practically bumped into him as he stopped suddenly.

“Yes.” She nodded but didn’t meet his eyes.

“Are you sure?” He moved closer, until there wasn’t room for air between their bodies. “If there’s anything else you want to talk about. If you have any other ideas.”

“No.” She placed her hand on his chest and took comfort from the steady thump of his heart.

“Okay then.” He inhaled and inched away from her, but she caught hold of him and pulled him back.

“I just want you to know that I love you.” She patted his chest. “I mean really love you. It’s like it’s there, inside of me. I don’t know where it came from or when it started, it’s just there.”

He smiled shyly. “Are you sure you don’t have shifter blood somewhere in your ancestry?”

She snorted and covered her mouth. “My Grandma Sylvie would go crazy if she heard you say that.” Her brows knitted together. “Although, my Grandma Hannah who lives by the wildwood would get a kick out of it.”

“You’re back.” Aiden appeared behind them, making her jump and pull away from Caleb as if they’d been caught misbehaving.

“We went to check out the surrounding area,” Caleb replied. “There’s an outcrop in the foothills. I wondered if someone had been spying on the house from up there. It’s far enough away that my senses wouldn’t have picked up on them but close enough that someone with a powerful telescope would have been able to see.”

“Did you find anything?” Aiden asked.

“No.”

“I’ve already scoured the mountainside,” Zara called from the kitchen. “I had the same idea.”

“And nothing?” Caleb went to the kitchen and Elise followed. She needed to get Karros outside. Perhaps into the back yard.

“No.” Zara shook her head. “Plus, it’s not just here that I sensed someone. I went for a run from my aunt’s house and sensed it there, too.”

“Could someone have followed you from here to there?” Aiden asked.

“Not easily. Not without me knowing. The roads are so quiet, I’d have seen the headlights.” She shrugged. “Unless they guessed that was where I was going.”

“You look as if you need some fresh air, Karros.” Elise went to her brother and tucked