The Hunt (By Kiss and Claw #2) - Melissa Haag Page 0,95
cakes. The options went on, but I wanted lemon. I fed ravenously, my hunger demanding another helping as soon as I finished the first. But it didn’t seem to matter. The number of sweet treats never diminished from the branches.
Slowly, the ache in my middle eased. I didn’t stop. But I did slow enough to savor what I was consuming. Instead of only breathing in the cake, I took my time to drag my tongue through the lemon curd filling.
The world beneath me trembled, and I paused. The cake varieties vanished in an instant, leaving only lemon. Before I could wonder what was happening, a pressure settled on the back of my head.
“Feed,” the trees encouraged. “You’re safe. Take what you need.”
My hunger wanted me to listen, but that sensation on the back of my head felt wrong. I reached around to feel my hair, but nothing was there. Yet, I felt trapped, and panic rose. I struggled against the weight.
The pressure vanished.
“Shh. It’s your choice,” the trees rumbled. “Always. Forgive me.”
The trembling beneath my feet eased.
Chapter Eighteen
I looked around at the cakes, noting the variety had returned.
Not trusting the forest, I sat with my back against the trees and watched for a while. The cakes swayed gently, teasing me with their scents. Eventually, I gave in and inhaled more. But I was careful not to lick the icing. The trees seemed to like that just a little too much.
I was lazily lounging on the ground, letting the cake flavors drift into my mouth when the ground rumbled again. Above me, the branches shook.
“I’ll save you, my goddess!”
I sat up and looked around for skunks.
“I vow to protect the glory of your honeyed petals, glistening with their delicious sweet nectar.”
I covered my ears. “No, no, no. Wake up, Eliana. Wake up.”
The trees continued to shake until they disappeared. A rush of frigid air enveloped me.
“You!” Piepen wailed.
An abhorrently familiar skunk scent mingled with the ebbing sweet scents of cakes as I opened my eyes.
“Piepen,” Fenris said calmly.
I turned my head to look at the pair. Piepen hovered at head height, glaring accusingly at Fenris, who stood just inside the open cabin door. The bare expanse of Fenris’s back and the way the shorts he wore rode low on his hips had me staring longingly.
“Woman, eyes up here,” Piepen squeaked, zipping through the opening.
Fenris grabbed for him, but the brownie was too fast and zipped right toward my head.
I lifted my hand.
“Stop.”
Piepen came to an abrupt halt inches from my face, his arms spread wide and the front of his pants tented. Based on the pose and the frantic look in his eyes, I’d just prevented nasal penetration.
“Why are you here, Piepen?”
His arms dropped to his sides, and he gave me a woeful look.
“Dewy had the baby. I told her I wouldn’t sell my wings, and she said without the money, the baby will go hungry. Then, I thought of your gloriously mounded breasts.”
His hand drifted toward his crotch, but he changed direction and ran it through his hair before I could scold him.
“Will you breastfeed the baby?” he asked earnestly. “I know we have to worry about the child you carry, but your bountiful breasts could feed all three of us.”
“Three?”
“Our babe, my son, and myself. Just to assure quality,” he said quickly.
Behind him, Fenris was making choked noises behind his hand.
Piepen noted the direction of my gaze and zipped to the right, interrupting my line of sight.
“Why are you here with the wolf?”
“I thought I’d be able to sleep peacefully here. How did you find me?”
“You wear my mark. There’s nowhere you can go that I won’t find you.”
“That makes you a stalker, Piepen,” Fenris said, finally speaking up. “No one wants a stalker.”
“Says the guy who’s always around my woman,” Piepen squeaked, glaring at Fenris. “Why are you here?”
“It’s his cabin, Piepen. But that is a good question.” I looked at Fenris. “I thought you were sleeping.”
“Jenna mentioned you’d texted to check in on me. I thought I’d return the favor and check in on you. I was worried you’d let the fire go out and wake up freezing again.”
“The fire’s fine. You can leave now,” Piepen said, pointing toward the door.
“Without congratulating you on becoming a father?” Fenris asked. “That would be rude. Have a seat, my friend. Tell me about this miraculous bundle of joy that was conceived and born in record time.”