“Oh, right.” His smile flattened. “Kissing rules and your impending nuptials. When is that happening again?”
“Samhain.” My heart cramped when I thought about how close it was.
“So—what?” He tried to sound out the word. “Is that supposed to mean something to me?”
I crumpled a piece of paper and threw it at him. “For someone whose name most people would read as SEE-MUSS, that’s pretty pathetic.”
He picked up my notebook missile, tossing it in the nearest wastebasket. “Just because I have an Irish name doesn’t make me an expert in all old languages.”
“You’re pretty good at Latin,” I countered.
“Which is why I don’t have time to learn all the others,” he said.
“Fair enough,” I said. “Samhain. SOW-WHEN.”
“Okay, Samhain.” He pronounced it correctly. “Your wedding day. So when is it?”
“October thirty-first.”
“Halloween?” He scowled. “How romantic.”
“Halloween doesn’t matter. Samhain does.” I threw him a warning glare, which he ignored.
“And it’s a big deal because . . .” He waved his hand to mimic smoke rising in the air.
“The Keepers can renew their powers that night. The veil between the worlds is thinnest at Samhain.”
Shay’s hand dropped. “What worlds?”
“This one and the nether.”
“Sounds scary.” He grabbed a pen and jotted some notes, but I saw his fingers shaking. I wondered if it was from actual fear or if his body was still taut with frustrated desire like mine.
“It probably is,” I agreed. “Luckily the Guardians just patrol the perimeter. I’ve never had to see what they do.”
I suddenly felt queasy.
“Whoa.” Shay peered at me. “You’re all green. What’s up?”
I gripped the edge of the table, wishing the dizziness would subside. “I’ll have to see it this year.”
He leaned forward. “Why?”
“The ceremony is different this time.” My nails took a thin peel of varnish off the table. “Because they picked that night for the union, I’ll be there.”
“Do you know what it involves?” His own face had whitened.
“No,” I said. “The ritual of the union is a secret. I don’t know much about it at all.”
“Sucks for you,” he muttered. “Like everything else about this.”
“Stop it, Shay.” I tried to start reading again.
“I don’t see why you can’t bend the rules,” he pressed. “From what I’ve been told, Ren’s dated half of Vail.”
He looked at me as though expecting a shocked response.
“Everyone knows that. It doesn’t matter. That was his choice.” I kept my eyes on the table. “The rules are different for him.”
“So, what, boys will be boys and girls have to behave?” he scoffed.
“I’m the alpha female.” I hooked my ankles around the chair’s legs. “No one can touch me. It’s the Keepers’ Law.”
“But Ren can touch whoever he wants?” he asked. “’Cause it sounds like he does.”
“He’s an alpha male. The hunt is in his nature.” My ankle lock on the chair legs was so tight I heard the wood creak. I didn’t want Shay to ask the question I could see on his face.
He frowned. “But if you’re an alpha too, wouldn’t the hunt be part of your nature?”
I didn’t answer. My legs felt like they were on fire.
“And I touched you . . .” His fingers twitched, as if he wished he were touching me now. Does he want me as much as I want him?
“I shouldn’t have let you.” My body went limp. “Can we talk about something else, please?”
“But it’s not fair—” He reached for my hand.
I leaned away from him. “Fair has nothing to do with it. It’s about tradition. Tradition is important to the Keepers.”
“But what about . . .” His words trailed off.
“The union is too close.” I slipped my hands under the table. “I’m not free. And for your information, Ren is not dating anyone else now either.”
“Is he dating you?” Shay slammed his laptop shut.
“It’s complicated.” Actually, it’s simple. I belong to Ren, not you.
He dropped into his chair. “I can’t stand that guy. He acts like he owns you.”
“You don’t understand him.” I squirmed at the futility of the conversation. “And you will not kiss me again, Shay Doran.”
“I won’t promise that,” he said.
I turned away, hoping he wouldn’t notice the warm blush that had crept over my cheeks. I didn’t want his promise, but that choice wasn’t mine. I have to stop this, now.
“Fine.” I tried to make my voice cold. “I’m sure you’d go through life ably enough with only one hand.”