Wulfric

It was late when everyone went home. Glenna, Safiya, and Roderick didn't waste much time before heading to their rooms for the night. Arlo was already tucked away in his guest room, having retired early. I thought he was just trying to avoid my father, who didn't seem to know how to interact with him. Arlo needn't have bothered, as my father left to find a hotel as soon as night fell.

Edmund and I had already gone out for a hunt at the local bar and returned already, sated and content. Today went better than I ever could have imagined. Or... I looked at the clock, and my eyes widened when I saw the time. It was nearly dawn already.

Yesterday went better than I could have imagined, I corrected myself.

"What are you smiling at?" Edmund asked.

I shook my head. "Nothing much. I think I'm just relieved."

He shifted in his seat so he was more directly facing me, his eyes wide with eagerness and curiosity. "About Griffin?" he pried.

I shrugged, though of course the obvious answer was yes.

"I can't wait to meet him," Edmund said.

I frowned at him. "Who says you're going to meet him?"

"Aren't I?" he asked smugly, teasingly.

"Yes." Then I hesitated. "Actually, he'll be here sometime today." I had hoped to sweep him out and find some kind of privacy, but unless he came very early or very late, that was unlikely to be feasible. Sunlight wouldn't kill me, but it would cause a lot of pain and inconvenience, especially since I was still a little shaky from Glenna's blood magic.

Maybe I should have had him meet me somewhere after dark.

That would probably have been better for me. But after taking away so much of his choice and causing him untold pain, I didn't feel that I was in a position to make demands. Better to let Griffin have a say. People were always more forgiving when they had some control over a situation. Besides, if being separated from me really was hurting him, I imagined he wouldn't want to wait for nightfall.

"You don't know when?" Edmund asked. I shook my head, and he laughed delightedly. "If what I've heard about werewolves is right, he'll be over bright and early."

I grimaced, since Edmund was enjoying this far too much. He laughed again when he saw my pained expression. Then his laughter faded out and he studied me curiously. "Hey, Wulf?"

"Yes?"

"I'm really happy for you," he said simply, in that way he has. Edmund was always so truthful and earnest, so guileless, that he could tell you anything and you would know him to be perfectly sincere. It made times like this all the sweeter.

I nodded solemnly in response despite the warmth in my chest and wondered whether Edmund might be happier about Griffin entering my life than I was. It was hard to know how to feel about it, myself. After centuries spent resenting the prospect of meeting my soulmate, it was hard to pivot and feel excitement. Instead, I was trying to approach this without any feelings at all. So far, it was working. I would spend time with Griffin because he needed me to. For myself... well, I could at least admit to being curious about him.

My brother and I spent the rest of the early morning hours in companionable silence, reading books we borrowed from Glenna and Safiya's collection. After so many years alive, it was unusual to find such a wealth of information we'd never been able to access. The contents of these books were in no library I'd ever seen, and could certainly not be found on the internet. At least, not from reliable sources. So, while Edmund learned about potion theory, I delved back into the thick tome I had started last night, yet another volume about the kinds of supernatural who lived among us. There were more than I ever realized, and it was fascinating learning about them.

We were interrupted first by Glenna, who looked fresh and lovely as ever. I had never seen her bleary-eyed or rumpled, and her hair was always perfectly neat. Today, it was wrapped around her head in an elaborate braid that looked like a coronet. It had to be spellwork... right? No person looked like this so early in the morning, before she'd even had her tea. Right?

"Good morning," she said to us, smiling serenely. My eyes needed a break from parsing rows of tiny text, so I followed her into the kitchen and watched as she gracefully put together a tray of tea and scones with marmalade. It was so prettily arranged, I felt a little pang of disappointment that I wouldn't be able to partake.

"How are you doing, Wulfric?" Glenna asked, and I realized it had been a little creepy of me to follow her in here without saying anything.

"I apologize. I was hoping to keep you company," I said.

"That sounds good. But how are you doing?" Glenna repeated herself, and if I'd been human, I was sure I would have blushed.

"I'm well," I replied. "And yourself?"

"I'm a little tired still, but I expect a couple cups of tea will set me right," she replied.

I took the tray from her and carried it into the living room, setting it on the coffee table next to the book Edmund had just set down. We sat in companionable silence as Glenna took a couple sips from her steaming teacup.

Finally, I broke the silence with a topic I had been curious about since meeting the sisters. "Do you enjoy living with your sister and her husband?" I asked.

Glenna laughed softly. "Yes, though I think it may be more accurate to say that Roderick lives with myself and Safiya. This was our house first."

"Ah." Interesting. "And you never married?"

What was making me ask such things? It was improper. I was prying into her personal life where I had no business being. And what if I stepped on some delicate feelings? What woman would be satisfied living with her sister and her sister's spouse, while being alone? "I apologize, forget I asked."

Glenna waved off my apology. "It's alright, I don't mind. No, I've never been married. Nor will I."

"You might find someone," Edmund said encouragingly.

But Glenna was adamant. "I won't." She looked between us, her head tilted like she was thinking hard about something. Then she added, "I'm what they call aromantic."

Now that was fascinating. I couldn't imagine not having any interest in romantic pursuits – my unique situation notwithstanding. If it weren't for the curse looming over me, I would probably have been ecstatic to find a life partner for myself.

"Oh," Edmund said. He bit at his lip, and I knew he was feeling uncomfortable and unsure of what to say to that.

"It must be nice to be so close to your sister, then," I supposed.

Glenna nodded and picked up her teacup again. "It really is. I may have no interest in pursuing romantic relationships, but I still need companionship. It was a relief when I met Roderick and found that he didn't mind his partner's older sister hanging about."

How odd it was, to be discussing something so personal with such a new acquaintance. Then again, she knew many intimate details of our lives, and sharing a roof like we had been made for fast intimacy.

"Hopefully Griffin feels the same way," Edmund said. I heard how he tried to keep his tone bright, but he was no good at hiding his true feelings. I heard how nervous he was about this, and I couldn't believe I hadn't known before that this was weighing on him.

"He will," I said firmly. Glenna and Edmund both looked at me, clearly surprised, and I sighed. "Griffin is supposed to be my destined match, no? Well, he cannot be compatible with me if he doesn't have room in his life and in his heart for my cherished younger brother."

It was a foolproof argument, I thought. That wouldn't apply to everything, of course – only the things that were truly important in my life. If Griffin really was meant to be mine, then surely this much, at least, I could count on.

Edmund smiled tearfully and Glenna gave me the biggest smile I'd ever seen from her. "Perhaps it was similar for my sister. Perhaps Roderick was destined to fit into her life in just the same way. I rather like the idea," she said.

I inclined my head, glad she understood and agreed.

"So, if you'll forgive my asking, what do you intend to do about Griffin?" Glenna asked after a few beats of silence.

Edmund sat up and, eyes twinkling, said, "Griffin's coming here this morning!"

Glenna's eyes widened and she set down her teacup with such force that it rattled in its saucer. "I need to get ready!" she said, and hurried to her feet. She started for the kitchen only to double back for the tray. "Do you know when he'll arrive?"

Edmund smirked, eying me sidelong. "Wulfric didn't give him a time."

Glenna looked at the clock and touched her hand to her cheek as her eyes widened. "Not long, then."

"What's wrong?" I asked. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have invited him over without discussing it with you and Safiya first."

"Nonsense! Your guests are welcome, especially that sweet boy. But I'd like to have some refreshments ready for him when he comes. We'll make sure to give you two some space. I know you won't want to go out in the sunlight, especially since you still look rather pale from the blood ritual."

I laughed a little at that. "When am I not pale?" I asked sarcastically.

Glenna was unamused, but Edmund laughed a little. "Why don't I give you a hand in the kitchen, Glenna? And Wulfric can go get ready to meet the love of his life."

Glenna handed Edmund the tray and beamed at him. "Thank you, dear."

They left and I thought I was in the clear until Glenna's head poked out of the kitchen long enough for her to look me over appraisingly. "And why don't you do something about your hair?" she suggested, and disappeared.

I patted the top of my head, scowling. What was wrong with my hair? Surely, it looked the same as it ever did. I sat on the couch for a few more moments before sighing and standing up to find a mirror. Before I made it more than a few steps, a knock sounded on the door.

There was a clatter in the kitchen, then silence. I stared at the door, frozen in place, until another knock rang out. I thought I could feel a strange buzzing sensation through my veins – a kind of anticipation. My throat felt dry even though I wouldn't need to drink again for another day or two, and I convulsively swallowed. My hand brushed over my hair in a last futile attempt to smooth it, and then I could stall no more.

I opened the door slowly at first, and quickly once I saw the man on the other side. His hair was a rich golden brown shade, with the top longer and curly while the rest was shaved short. Smooth, tanned skin drew attention to eyes that were a deep shade of blue... eyes that were fixed on me with an intensity that took my breath away. Once we locked gazes, those eyes were all I saw and I had to give up on the rest of my inspection for now. Chills ran down not only my spine, but my whole torso.

He was like a magnet, and I finally understood Edith's words from so long ago.

"Imagine you're seeing in black and white, and that person is color. Or imagine you're in the dark, and a lamp turns on. I don't know how else to describe it. You just... see them, and you know. There can be no doubt."

Those words had haunted me so much that they'd carved themselves indelibly into my mind. I could still remember exactly how Edith's voice sounded as she spoke them, and the way her eyes had gone soft as she remembered meeting her husband. Her expression that day, so incomprehensible to me then, seemed a perfect representation of how I felt now, looking at the man who could only be Griffin.

He inhaled shakily and I watched as his eyes dilated further, the blue almost swallowed up by the black. It was natural to reach out a hand toward him. I aimed my right hand at his for a handshake – not the contact I suddenly craved, but it seemed an appropriate start. Griffin had another idea. He took my right hand with his left and intertwined our fingers. It should have been too intimate, holding hands with this complete stranger, but it felt good. Right, in ways I couldn't have described if someone handed me a dictionary and gave me hours to peruse it.

"Hi," he said. So simple.

"Hello." I finally pulled my gaze away from Griffin's so I could finish taking him in. He was shorter than me, but only just. And his frame, though lean, featured sculpted muscles that had to come from hard work. His hips looked surprisingly shapely, though I couldn't be certain since his t-shirt was a little loose. My fingers twitched to grab hold of them, and Griffin squeezed my hand in response.

How could so many ordinary things sum up to something so extraordinary? Everything I saw of Griffin captivated me, and I could almost see (only almost, I told myself) how my siblings might have met their fated pairs and cast everything away for them.

"Well, aren't you going to invite him in?" Safiya's voice called out from somewhere behind me. When had she awoken? And how dare she interrupt such a moment?

I instinctively released Griffin's hand, but he held fast and I renewed my grip after throwing a quick glare over my shoulder. When I turned back toward Griffin, he was smiling amusedly at me, and the sight of him made my still heart lurch.

"Will you?" he asked, raising his brows in mock curiosity.

Oh, he wanted to tease me, did he? I carefully extracted my hand from his and stepped back to bow obsequiously. "Please, won't you come inside?"

His eyes crinkled with laughter an instant before he snickered. "I think I'd rather if you did that, at least to start," he whispered. I choked on nothing and was still trying to splutter a response as Griffin walked past me and into the house. He patted my chest as he stepped by, and it somehow revived my good sense.

While Griffin greeted Safiya and Glenna, I joined my brother on the periphery of the room, where he stood leaning against a wall with his arms crossed.

"Well, brother?" he asked softly. His eyes were inscrutable, which I found disconcerting. It was a rare occasion that I couldn't tell what Edmund was thinking.

I looked toward Griffin and found him already watching me. I shook my head in response to my brother's question. How could I possibly describe the transformation I'd just undergone? The best I could manage was, "Everything Edith said was true."