Authors: Laurel Wanrow
The Twisting (34 page)
“Thanks. We’ve made progress on that gildan I told you about, but I have to figure out what it means for pack obligations and my role within them. It’s going to take some adjustment. Like back there on the platform. You didn’t need rescuing, did you?” He gestured to her. “Sorry for getting in your way.”
She smiled. Daeryn
was
talking about them, trying to set things straight. “You being there made it easier. It was better you didn’t rescue me. Until you did, of course.”
“Which, again, was pack instinct.” He lifted his hands, palms up. “I am what I am, Annmar. I can’t even fathom what a gentleman would have done to rescue you from Shearing.”
She shivered. “That would probably have been a pistol duel.”
His jaw tightened.
“I would never ask you to do—”
“I would have, if I had known.”
“But, Daeryn, you don’t understand. Mr. Shearing was correct: What I did was nothing a lady would do.” She drew a breath. “I’ve cut my ties to Derby.”
He raised a brow. “But what did you do?”
“Aside from wearing men’s clothing in public?” She laughed. “My entire trip was an exercise in impropriety, starting with spending the night in a married man’s company and ending with confronting him in a public venue. But I don’t care.” She grinned at him.
Daeryn grinned back. “I hope it’s worked and Shearing realizes he’s at your mercy.”
She shrugged. “We’ll find out in the next few days.”
“So, you’re returning to Wellspring?”
“Mr. Shearing told me step by step what he does to influence human Knack-bearers. I’m taking that information to Mistress Gere so we can stop him from controlling the Basin. Then I want to see those Harvesters running, and Wellspring will need every hand to bring in what’s left of the crops. Afterwards, I’m there for as long as Mistress Gere needs an artist. I’ll continue to work for room and board.” She lifted her left hand and pulled at the binding threads. “I’ll have a place to live while I repay my debt to Old Terry and learn what I can of my father.”
Daeryn nodded slowly, his gaze shifting to view the passing farms for a moment before returning to her. “Would you consider getting involved with a ’cambire?” he asked. “Uh, me, specifically. That’s not always looked upon kindly, either, which I’ve begun to realize is similar to having brown skin Outside.”
A laugh hiccupped from her. “Your skin is beautiful. It’s a part of you I like, just like your polecat form. But my situation is still the same, so—” Oh, Lord, this seemed so lame after what she’d done with Mr. Shearing. “Can we court?”
He tilted his head. “Exactly what does courting—in city terms—entail?”
“I’m not saying it has to follow city ways. Or country ways. Could it just be…our way?”
One of his brows rose, and Daeryn’s image flickered to polecat.
Her stomach flipped.
“Would holding hands be included?” he asked softly.
It took every ounce of her willpower to answer in a steady voice. “Definitely.”
Very deliberately, he placed his hand over hers on the rail, then slid his fingers ever so lightly under hers. Tingles erupted over her skin, so by the time he lifted her hand, she had to check to see his fingers laced into hers. Blue threads flowed between them. She rocked unsteadily, unsure if it was because she’d let go of the railing or was now holding on to him.
Their gazes met, and he smiled. “Would hugs be included?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
He slipped an arm around her waist and tugged her to him. He was warm and solid, and if he let go right now, she’d slide off the platform. He looked down, and there was nothing she could do but squeeze his hand tighter and stare up into his chocolate eyes.
“How about…kissing?”
At the question, her gaze dropped to his lips, then her eyes fluttered closed. After last night…could she? Her chest felt enclosed by the corset once more, her breathing shallow. But the corset was gone, and Annmar drew a deep breath to shake the feeling. Daeryn’s familiar polecat musk filled her nostrils.
It’s Daeryn. It will be fine.
I will be fine.
She tucked her nose to his chest and inhaled again before tipping her head back and looking at him. She didn’t trust her voice to cooperate, so she nodded. His lips continued to smile, and as they came nearer, her breath raced her heart, until he stopped and so did she, not breathing for what seemed like forever. Then his head dipped toward her.
Annmar closed her eyes. His lips were whisker light, so much so she might be imagining them. But they moved in the most gentle of kisses, and she sighed in relief. Daeryn’s slow touches transported her back to the safe, warm feelings she’d shared with him before.
“All right?” he asked.
It took a moment before she had her breath again. Daeryn had missed—or purposefully left out—an act. “You’ve forgotten something. Scent-marking?”
His eyes rounded, surrounded for a second by soft brown fur. “Really?”
“Really. I like the way
you
smell.”
A broad grin transformed Daeryn’s face to pure human. He hugged her against his chest and rubbed his chin over her hair.
She lifted her nose and sniffed. The musk of him did things to her insides…things she liked.
“Better?” he asked.
“Perfect.”
Daeryn laughed. “Yes, Annmar Masterson, courting would suit me fine.”
* * *
The End of Volume Two
Annmar and Daeryn’s story continues in
The Binding, Volume Three of The Luminated Threads.
THANK YOU!
Dear Reader,
Thank you for reading The Twisting. I hope you enjoyed this second installment in The Luminated Threads. If you did, please consider leaving a review with the retailer or your favorite book site. Reviews are very important to authors, not only to improve our craft, but also to guide other readers to a book they may also enjoy.
I hope you’re as excited as I am to continue Annmar and Daeryn’s story. The third volume will release in 2016. To be notified of this and future releases, please sign up for my newsletter:
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May all your reading be magical!
Laurel Wanrow
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
My writing journey continues to be supported by my family and friends. Thank you all for your amazing outpouring of love that has buoyed me through the craziness that is publishing.
Revision of this second volume flowed smoothly, due to the help of some truly talented writers! Thank you Jason, Andy, Deb, and EK for your continued critiques through CritiqueCircle.com, and to Marta, Anna, Michelle, Nooce, Em, Mary and Kira for plotting, beta reading and slogging through many versions of the cover copy.
I’m lucky enough to belong to a fabulous group of indie gurus, the Maryland Romance Writers’ Self-Pubs. These ladies keep me up-to-date with the 1001 details of the industry. Many thanks to my local chapters for continuing workshops and guidance through Romance Writers of America: Washington Romance Writers, Maryland Romance Writers and Young Adult RWA.
I’m incredibly pleased with my beautiful second cover—thank you, Craig Shields! And thanks to Joyce Lamb, my copy editing stage runs without a hitch.
Any mistakes in historical accuracy are mine. One area I take liberties in is period clothing, but I try to stay within reason, thanks to Linda and Michelle!
Lastly, thank you to my new readers! It’s wonderful feeling to know people are anticipating the next chapter in Annmar and Daeryn’s story and I appreciate it so much that you have shared your lovely enthusiasm!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laurel Wanrow loves misty mornings, the smell of freshly dug earth, petting long-haired guinea pigs and staring at the stars. She sees magic in nature and loves to photograph it.
Before kids, she studied and worked as a naturalist—someone who leads wildflower and other nature walks. During a stint of homeschooling, she turned her writing skills to fiction to share her love of the land, magical characters and fantastical settings.
When not living in her fantasy worlds, Laurel camps, hunts fossils and argues with her husband and two new adult kids over whose turn it is to clean house. Though they live on the East Coast, a cherished family cabin in the Colorado Rockies holds Laurel’s heart.