She must be playing a trick on the humans. That is the only explanation. He followed Rin's muted scent all the way to the palace. When he reached the entryway, he considered turning back. But her scent went through the gates. He had come too far to let a few humans deter him. Waiting until the humans were on the opposite end of the wall with their backs turned, he leapt over the wall. He landed on the other side, in a dark courtyard. The stink of humans was overwhelming. The wolf in him rebelled, demanding he return to the forest. The energy here was foul and dragged against his other senses. He shook off his concerns and slunk through the shadows, searching out Rin's scent. The competing scents mixed together, making it difficult to pick one out from the gloom. Then he heard someone approaching from the opposite direction. He crouched in the shadows, sitting on his haunches.

"The young lord asked a room be prepared for the lady," said an older man.

"I'll see it done, then," replied a middle-aged woman.

He suspected Rin was said lady and followed the middle-aged woman to a chamber. She laid out bedding, lit the braziers and hung screens. He crept behind her while she worked and waited in the garden beyond. When she exited, he snuck in to investigate. The room was small but well furnished, the futon made of silk and the pillows filled with feathers. This is a fine place but nothing compared to the palace. He inspected the place but found nothing out of the ordinary. There were wooden drawers to keep possessions, a window at one end, and a garden facing the inner chamber. Reeds hung around the main sleeping area, blocking it from view.

She cannot avoid me forever. I'll just wait. He plopped down and waited for her arrival. It was some minutes before he heard voices outside the door.

The door slid open and he saw her profile. Her hair was long and black, and tied hastily. She looked like herself, but there was something not right about her appearance. Her energy was diminished and her glow gone.

She turned into the room and her gaze swept over the furnishings with an indifferent expression. Nothing out of the ordinary, he imagined her thinking. Then she saw him laid out on the futon. He had opened the front of his kimono so his flat stomach and defined chest were exposed. Had he been trying to seduce any other woman, it would have worked.

"I have been waiting for you, Rin," he said in a low rumbling voice.

She rolled her eyes and plopped down beside him.

He grinned, revealing pointed canines. That was his Rin, unimpressed. Maybe that was what had drawn him to her for so long. She did not fall prey to his charm like the other women. "What have you done?" He reached for her soft ebony hair and grabbed a few strands, tangling them around his long fingers.

She batted his hand away. She crossed her hands over her throat to indicate she could not speak.

He tutted. He should have known straight away. "You've been bewitched, I can see it now. What is the price to break the spell? Should I summon the Dragon?"

She shook her head furiously. Then things must have ended badly with the Dragon. Perhaps now was his chance. After waiting so long, he did not want to waste his opportunity to tell her how he felt. He should wait until he knew her heart was healed. Besides, she was under some spell. Now was not the right time.

Shin folded his arms over his chest. "You can't keep avoiding him for eternity. In fact, I came here to bring you back. I thought you were playing a trick on the humans, and now I can see this is much more complicated than that."

She sighed.

"You probably did it to yourself," he mused aloud.

Rin scowled at him in return.

He laughed, a rich husky sound.

She spread out her hands in a gesture that said, Well, can you help me break this spell?

He lay back on the futon and cradled his head on his forearms. "I don't know if I should help you this time. Maybe I'm done cleaning up your messes." He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. He loved the way her face flushed when she did not know what to do with him. Teasing her was the best way to elicit that reaction, but he'd much rather have her cheeks flushed for a different reason. He squashed down the thought. Now was not the time. He needed to focus on fixing this problem first.

She placed a hand on his shoulder and he flickered dark brown eyes towards her. She gave him a quivering bottom lip. She knew he could not resist. She's good, I'll give her that.

He sighed. "Fine, I'll look into it. For now you stay here. It's safer if you are among humans while you are one."

She clapped her hands. He grinned at her in return. It felt like old times before the Dragon. I never should have separated myself from her. This is my fault if it's anyone's. I have to protect her.

She threw her arms around Shin's shoulders. He toppled backwards and she pinned him to the ground. She leaned over him. Her now dark hair fell between them and tickled his nose. Her lips were slightly parted. It took all his self-control to not lean forward and kiss her. Did she not know how she drove him mad? How every casual touch, every movement drew him to her? He had held back these feelings for so long, but damn it, he was tired of waiting. He needed her. No amount of liaisons was worth even a tenth of just seeing her smile. His breathing was deep and shallow. Their faces were close together. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. No matter how brave or how powerful he was, she always brought him to his knees. He couldn't face the rejection if she still loved the Dragon. He sighed and then very gently pushed her off. She sat back and gave him a puzzled look.

"I'll be back tomorrow. Stay out of trouble until then," he said with his back to her.

She reached out for him, but before she could grab onto him, he transformed. He did not want her to convince him to stay and have him make a mistake he would later regret. A second later, the man disappeared and in his place was a wolf. The wolf bounded out of the room and down through the garden. I'll be back with a way to break her spell, and maybe then I'll have the courage to say what I really feel.

b2