Read Online Dare to Bear (Book 1 Trail Guardians Series) by Christine Julian - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Christine Julian
Tags: paranormal romance
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tempers.
Damned hollow-bones . Mason bet Ollun could come up with a more scathing retort, but this wasn’t a contest for biggest jerk, or a competition for which shifter species reigned supreme.
That was until Ollun entered the cave and took an intense fascination with Stephanie. She lay asleep, curled up on her side, tucked into her sleeping bag.
Instantly, Mason stepped between Ollun and Steph. “Look at her like that again,” Mason growled, “and I’ll throw you out of this cave without the vial.”
Ollen’s lids lowered, creating golden half-moons. “Ah. I see.”
Mason’s muscles flexed. “You see what?”
“The source of your frustrated roar. Did the human rebuff your primitive advances?”
“She didn’t deny me anything.” Mason heard the defensiveness in his own voice.
“Mmm.” The smug superiority in Ollun’s tone made Mason’s back tense. “You’re rather taken with this human.”
“None of your business,” Mason snapped. He felt his canines begin to descend and pulled back from his inner territorial bear.
Ollun folded his arms. “If she distracts you from the viral threat imperiling us all, then I might say it is some of my business.” He glanced past Mason’s shoulder. “She is a fetching creature. A redhead no less.” When Ollun’s eyes lit with interest, Mason clenched his fists and took a step forward. “Oh, fear not, my furry friend. Ollusians would never stoop to mate with a pureblood human. Though she is a prize. I can see why she brings out the beast in you.”
“I know who she is, and what she is to me . Now back off.”
Ollun held up his hands. “As you wish. Though indulge me. How is it, mating with a human? Are they as careless with their sexuality as they are with the environment?”
Mason glared beneath the shelf of his brow. “You might be an ally, but I will punch your face in, if you talk about her like that again.”
Ollun laughed. “All right. No more jokes at your expense. Let’s get down to business.”
With slender hands, the Ollusian withdrew a round-bottomed glass bottle from the white folds of his cloak. He emptied its liquid contents into the pool with a light splash, rinsed the container thoroughly, then deftly transferred the infected blood from Mason’s vial to the potion bottle. Both containers were sealed quickly to avoid exposure.
Before he left, Ollun paused, his gaze unusually piercing. “Take care with that one,” he said, tipping his head at Stephanie. “Her heart is damaged. She will need your strength to discover her destiny.”
Blown away by Ollun’s intuitive statement, Mason nodded.
“Best of luck to you.” The man’s lips curved with a whisper of a grin. “You’ll need it.”
“Whatever.” Mason scoffed. “Get your bony owl ass out of here.”
“With pleasure.” Ollun bowed. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Unfortunately,” Mason said under his breath, as Ollun took flight, the vial clutched in his talons.
An owl as an ally . Mason shook his head. Who would’ve guessed?
His gaze drifted to Steph. So innocent, so peaceful, and just out of reach.
“My love.” His voice came out a pained whisper. “My future. My fate.” Distress darkened his hope. “What must I do to win your heart?”
6
The most luxurious sensations lured Stephanie from slumber.
Her scalp tingled pleasurably as fingers combed through her long hair. They gently worked through tangles, never tugging too hard, just the perfect amount of pressure and grace to ease her into awakening.
She blinked up the outrageously handsome man smiling down at her. “Morning,” Mason said, his voice the embodiment of sex appeal.
“Hi,” she said shyly.
Although she didn’t want the caresses to stop, his affections conflicted with his attitude from the night before. He’d been visibly riled by her response to his advances, once she’d returned to her right mind and refused to take things any further with him.
At the erotic memory of
Damned hollow-bones . Mason bet Ollun could come up with a more scathing retort, but this wasn’t a contest for biggest jerk, or a competition for which shifter species reigned supreme.
That was until Ollun entered the cave and took an intense fascination with Stephanie. She lay asleep, curled up on her side, tucked into her sleeping bag.
Instantly, Mason stepped between Ollun and Steph. “Look at her like that again,” Mason growled, “and I’ll throw you out of this cave without the vial.”
Ollen’s lids lowered, creating golden half-moons. “Ah. I see.”
Mason’s muscles flexed. “You see what?”
“The source of your frustrated roar. Did the human rebuff your primitive advances?”
“She didn’t deny me anything.” Mason heard the defensiveness in his own voice.
“Mmm.” The smug superiority in Ollun’s tone made Mason’s back tense. “You’re rather taken with this human.”
“None of your business,” Mason snapped. He felt his canines begin to descend and pulled back from his inner territorial bear.
Ollun folded his arms. “If she distracts you from the viral threat imperiling us all, then I might say it is some of my business.” He glanced past Mason’s shoulder. “She is a fetching creature. A redhead no less.” When Ollun’s eyes lit with interest, Mason clenched his fists and took a step forward. “Oh, fear not, my furry friend. Ollusians would never stoop to mate with a pureblood human. Though she is a prize. I can see why she brings out the beast in you.”
“I know who she is, and what she is to me . Now back off.”
Ollun held up his hands. “As you wish. Though indulge me. How is it, mating with a human? Are they as careless with their sexuality as they are with the environment?”
Mason glared beneath the shelf of his brow. “You might be an ally, but I will punch your face in, if you talk about her like that again.”
Ollun laughed. “All right. No more jokes at your expense. Let’s get down to business.”
With slender hands, the Ollusian withdrew a round-bottomed glass bottle from the white folds of his cloak. He emptied its liquid contents into the pool with a light splash, rinsed the container thoroughly, then deftly transferred the infected blood from Mason’s vial to the potion bottle. Both containers were sealed quickly to avoid exposure.
Before he left, Ollun paused, his gaze unusually piercing. “Take care with that one,” he said, tipping his head at Stephanie. “Her heart is damaged. She will need your strength to discover her destiny.”
Blown away by Ollun’s intuitive statement, Mason nodded.
“Best of luck to you.” The man’s lips curved with a whisper of a grin. “You’ll need it.”
“Whatever.” Mason scoffed. “Get your bony owl ass out of here.”
“With pleasure.” Ollun bowed. “I’ll be in touch.”
“Unfortunately,” Mason said under his breath, as Ollun took flight, the vial clutched in his talons.
An owl as an ally . Mason shook his head. Who would’ve guessed?
His gaze drifted to Steph. So innocent, so peaceful, and just out of reach.
“My love.” His voice came out a pained whisper. “My future. My fate.” Distress darkened his hope. “What must I do to win your heart?”
6
The most luxurious sensations lured Stephanie from slumber.
Her scalp tingled pleasurably as fingers combed through her long hair. They gently worked through tangles, never tugging too hard, just the perfect amount of pressure and grace to ease her into awakening.
She blinked up the outrageously handsome man smiling down at her. “Morning,” Mason said, his voice the embodiment of sex appeal.
“Hi,” she said shyly.
Although she didn’t want the caresses to stop, his affections conflicted with his attitude from the night before. He’d been visibly riled by her response to his advances, once she’d returned to her right mind and refused to take things any further with him.
At the erotic memory of
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