Changed by Fire (Phoenix Rising #6) - Harper Wylde Page 0,78
beat,” I told him with a laugh. “Didn’t Ciar say something about that?” I cocked my head, trying to remember.
“About me being a better skater?” Theo inquired, amused.
I snorted. “I don’t think it would take Ciar’s level of insanity to know you’re a better skater than me. No, when Joshua showed up to our house that first day.” A pang of longing hit me as I remembered the house we had shared, and all the memories and connections we’d made there. I hoped that someday we would be able to return. It was so hard to picture us living anywhere else. A knot tightened in my stomach as the little voice of worry whispered that maybe not all of us would return to it. “He said something about us being stronger now that we were all together.”
Theo made a noise of agreement, pushing his glasses up his nose. “He did,” Theo said slowly, turning it over. “When we touched hands, that light flashed. He made some ridiculous joke, and Kill chased him away.”
I nodded. “That second part describes most of our conversations with him though.” Skating really was soothing if I forgot how much it would hurt to fall. I pushed my legs harder, trying to pick up some speed. I wasn’t crazy enough to try a jump, but I could try going faster. That part definitely looked fun.
Theo sighed. “Too bad our research opportunities are so limited. I wonder if Ciarán may know of some other way to get information,” he mused to himself, his skates slowing as he lingered on the idea. “If he knew about the connection between us strengthening when we were all together, then maybe he knows more.”
“Ciarán always knows more,” I replied, weariness suddenly hitting me. “That’s part of the problem with him. There’s always a game, always a riddle.” I shook my head. “I don’t know how Rini dealt with it. I mean, it’s exhausting.”
“He probably wasn’t that way with her,” Theo pointed out. “We barely had a chance to see them together before they had that fight. They always hid in the background.”
“Yeah.” I grasped his hand as he passed me, letting him tow me across the ice. “It’s just like with Molly, you know? I want to see her happy.”
Theo growled. “I don’t think a mate will make her happy.” From the irritation on his face, I knew he was thinking of Cedric. He’d chased the werewolf away from Molly on several occasions, much to his sister’s consternation.
“It made me happy.”
Theo pulled us to a stop and tugged me into his arms. “Me too,” he whispered in my ear before he claimed my mouth in a deep kiss. Even here, in the middle of Alaska, he tasted of the sea, and I dug my hands into his thick, blond locks, needing more of him. He pulled away with a groan and buried his face in the crook of my neck, his breath raising goosebumps in its wake. “I’ve missed the taste of you on my lips,” he whispered.
“I kissed you this morning,” I reminded him on a gasp, as his tongue stroked a particularly sensitive spot behind my ear.
“Not the taste I meant.” He chuckled, and a blush burned my cheeks.
“Well, I did say that could be my surprise,” I reminded him breathlessly. Skating was amazing, but I wanted my mate.
“Theo!” a voice called, and he groaned in irritation before lifting his head. Molly stood to the side of our skating rink, her lips twisted up in a smug smile.
“What?” he snapped at his sister, and I smacked the back of his head.
“Be nice,” I hissed.
“Oh, I wanted to be very nice,” he whispered back, making me shiver.
“Mom’s looking for you,” Molly informed him, as Theo towed us closer. “She needs your help with something.”
Theo sighed, his eyes meeting mine. I reached up to kiss his cheek. “Go,” I told him quietly. “It’s okay. Thank you for skating with me. I loved it.” Theo picked me up and set me onto the snow. I could feel the skates dissolve, lowering my feet back to the ground. A moment passed, and the rink reverted back to snowy dunes.
“I don’t want anyone to slip,” he explained with a shrug, and I smiled at my sweet mate.
“I’ll see you later. I’m sure someone is waiting in the training yards to kick my butt through a workout anyhow,” I grumbled. Theo laughed.
“Come on, trouble.” He tugged his sister after him.