Bound by Spells (Bound Series Book 2) by Stormy Smith Page A

apart from each other. I wanted to speak, to take a step toward them, but I was suddenly drained. I struggled to hold my arm out, the weight of it becoming too much. As I let it drop back at my side, the five figures smashed together in a chorus of shrieking howls, piercing my ears and giving me the jolt of strength I needed to step backward and shove the door closed. 
    I was back on the bed, laboring to breathe, completely exhausted from the minute-long ordeal. I reminded myself that Rynna had told me it would take time as I fell back against the pillows and instantly fell asleep.
    What felt like seconds later, I was awake, but not really. I was dreaming, back in the forest that had haunted my dreams these past few months, the fog sweeping through and feeling alone. I was at least still on two legs, which was different than the last time I’d been here after I brought Bethany home from the AniMages. Oh, how long ago that seemed. It was hard to believe it had only been weeks since I truly started to understand who I was and what was inside me. I was lost in my own head as I pushed through the trees. I wasn’t scared—I had been here so many times before. The trees surrounding me had become friends. Their leaves slid through my fingers as I wandered around, grazing my fingers along the rough trunks.
    I felt safe here. For the first time in weeks, I truly felt safe. As I turned to head in a new direction, the brush rustled and I could feel the vibration of something coming toward me. Every hair on the back of my neck stood up. For the first time, I wasn’t alone—someone or something was here with me.
    I looked around, trying to decide whether I could run and which way made the most sense. I searched inside myself and found only my small violet flame. The Keeper was nowhere to be found and I was unsure of how much power I held without her. I went to take my first running step when it burst through the trees.
    I was flat on my back, gasping for the breath that had been knocked out of me. Two paws dug into my chest and a snarling lip curled around pointed teeth. I still wasn’t breathing as my eyes traveled up and connected to brilliant sapphires I would know anywhere. Recognition flitted through his eyes and the growling simmered to a low whine as Aidan stepped off and away from me.
    His movements were slow and calculated as he moved backward, never taking his eyes from mine. I struggled to shove myself up while maintaining our connection. I had no idea what to say. ‘I’m sorry’ surely wouldn’t cut it. It wouldn't even begin to tell the right story—the one he deserved to hear that I couldn’t give him that night.
    “Aidan? Can you hear me?” I asked, still breathless as I tried to regain my composure. His ears pricked up and he seemed to nod, his head tilting up and then down, ever so slightly. “Okay, so you understand me? Lift your left paw if you understand me,” I responded.
    He cocked his head to the right and simply stared. Had he had an eyebrow to lift, I was sure he would have.
    “Alright then, fine,” I huffed. “So you understand me. Got it. Is it dumb to ask if you can talk?” I took a few steps toward him and he recoiled a bit, so I stopped. We stared at each other and I held out my hand. He came forward one painfully slow step at a time and ducked his head underneath it, forcing my fingers to tangle in his thick fur coat the color of his hair—rich soil. It was deep and dark and it took everything I had not to collapse on the ground and wrap myself around him.
    Aidan let out another low whine and I crouched beside him so we were eye level. It was still weird, looking into the eyes of a wolf, but I saw him in there. I felt it in the way he tucked his head over my shoulder and pulled me into him. The way he nibbled into my hair, inhaling in small snorts. I exhaled into him as I gave in to my urges, wrapping my arms as far around his massive body as they would go. “I’ve missed you so much,