Chapter 21: Hunters’ Dinner

MERRIDA

My wards had warned me of intruders before they got to my cave, so I managed to hide behind some crates. Thankfully, I knew ancient magic and made myself invisible.

I watched these two gigantic wolves walk through the entrance. These weren’t ordinary wolves—that I knew from the start. One was raven black, while the other was a golden blond.

I heard the cracking of bones and peeked around my crate and had to swallow my gasp. These monsters were changing into men, and they were naked.

Both of them were tall, easily six feet and above. My eyes traced down their strong arms, their chiseled abs, and oh my! I felt the blush creep up my neck.

Why would they willingly do this to themselves? They seemed perfectly comfortable around each other naked.

They were speaking to each other.

“What the hell is this place?” the dark one asked. The golden one shrugged his shoulders. “Beats me; my boys said they lost the scent a few miles back.”

~Boys? There’s more?~

The dark one sniffed the air. “I smell something; it’s coming from over there.” He pointed right at me. I shrank farther into the darkness. I knew I was invisible, but I wasn’t risking it.

The dark one walked over until he was right in front of me and sniffed. “That’s strange. I smell something, but I can’t see anything.”

“Hey, what’s this stuff?” The golden one called him over. They looked through my herb bag.

The dark one was sniffing again. “Strange,” he mumbled.

“What? What is it?”

“Foxglove.” He sniffed again. “And dragon’s blood.”

“You know what they’re for?” The golden one looked worried.

The dark one nodded. “Foxglove is a poisonous herb, and dragon’s blood is a banishing herb, but it can be used for other things. Whoever is here is cooking up something powerful.”

~How does this beast know about magic? He’s not a witch. I’ve never heard of a witch that can turn into a wolf.~

“There’s no one here. Maybe we should call it a night but keep an eye on the place. You coming for dinner?” The golden one was walking to the entrance; the dark one followed him.

“I dunno, man. G might kill me.”

“Nah, don’t sweat it. Your parents are coming.”

“Who’s cooking?”

“Gia, I presume.”

“All right. Sweet. I’ll come.”

The men turned back into the beasts and ran from my cave.

~Gia? Like Gianna? She’s alive?~

GIANNA

I took me most of the afternoon to convince Liv to come for dinner. She’d eventually agreed. Mom and Dad sat at the table already. It was weird seeing them sitting at an ordinary-sized dining table.

“What if he doesn’t want me here? What if it’s awkward?”

I rolled my eyes. “Liv, stop panicking. It’s gonna be fine. You’re my best friend; you’re basically family anyway.” I waved her over to the table while I dished up.

I’d cooked spaghetti with garlic bread. I heard the front door open. Kol walked into the room with Diego close behind.

“Hey, you.” Kol winked at me. Diego just stood awkwardly at the door, glancing over at Liv, who was blushing at the table.

“Hey,” she whispered.

“Hey.” He shuffled his feet, then cleared his throat. “Ah, how’re you doing?”

“Uh, I’m good. How’re you?”

“Okay! Diego, just sit, please! Food is ready.” I forced him into the chair beside Liv. Everyone tucked into the food in silence for a few minutes. The boys even went back for seconds.

“So, Kol, I’m assuming you’ll be coming to the gala with us next week?” Dad huffed over his forkful of spaghetti.

Kol glanced at me. “Yes, sir. Wouldn’t miss it.” I smirked at him.

“Diego, son? I’m assuming Miss Saintclaire will be your date?”

I could feel the heat from Diego’s face from here. Liv just shrank into her seat like she wanted the ground to swallow her whole.

“I would like that, if she wanted to come with me, that is,” he mumbled, tearing apart some garlic bread.

Mom looked at Liv, and she squeaked, “Yes, that would be lovely.”

Both of them looked like they were about to burst into flames any second. Mom clapped her hands excitedly. “Oh, wonderful! Why don’t we go on a shopping trip, then? Just us girls?”

“That sounds wonderful, darling.” Dad sipped on his wine.

Once dinner had cleared and everyone had moved to the living room, Diego hung around to help me with the dishes. “Diego, spit it out.”

“Spit what out?”

“Why you’re hanging around me. You never do the dishes, so you obviously want something.”

“Did you, um, talk to Liv?” he mumbled.

“Yes.”

“And?”

I sighed and turned to him.

“Diego, you need to talk to her yourself.

“I know you were a player in the past, and this whole love shit is new territory for you, but she is my friend, and she deserves a conversation, so man the fuck up and go talk to her now!” I barked at him.

He threw the towel on the counter. “Okay, okay! I’ll go talk to her,” he grumbled.

DIEGO

I hated it when my sister was right. I stomped into the sitting room. I cleared my throat. “Um, Liv? Could I, ah, talk to you for a second?”

She smiled at me, and my stomach did a somersault again.

~Get a grip, Diego.~

We walked to the patio outside. “Are you cold? You can have my jacket if you want.”

“No, I’m okay, thanks.” She sat on a chair. “So what’s on your mind, Diego?”

I smiled and sat across from her. “I was just wondering how you were feeling. You know about the, uh, mating thing?” I could feel my cheeks blushing.

~Fuck’s sake, Diego.~

She looked lost in thought, so I just waited for her to be ready to talk. I glanced at her. Under the terrace lights, she looked even more beautiful, if that was even possible.

“I’ve thought about it.”

My head snapped up to her as she looked at me. “Uh, yeah?” My stomach was in knots.

~Shit.~

~Shit.~

~Shit.~

~She’s gonna say no.~

~I can’t take this.~

~Shit.~

~Please.~

~Fuck.~

~Crap.~

“I would like us to date, but I don’t want to rush anything, Diego. I don’t want to be another notch on your bedpost. I’m better than that.”

I reached across the table and took her hand in mine. She looked at me intently.

“I promise you, you’re my one and only.”