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“You want to teach me about werewolves?”
My feelings about that are conflicted. On one hand, I don’t want to wander around this kingdom entirely clueless, but I’m also afraid of what I’ll learn about my kind and about myself.
He nods. “Yes, if you’ll let me.”
I exhale slowly. “I guess so. I mean, I’m here, so I probably should.”
He frowns at my lack of enthusiasm. “Last night, you mentioned crossing paths with a couple of werewolves in the Common Realm. What were they like?”
I keep a neutral expression, despite my pounding heart. “I don’t know. We barely crossed paths.”
His eyes search mine. “They knew you, though.”
I give an unsteady shrug, staring at my feet. “They called me Elora, but at the time, I didn’t know my real name.”
He levels his gaze with mine. “What else did they say to you?”
That they were going to hurt me, which they did.
That they were going to break me, which they almost did.
That they were going to kill me the moment Legend left my side, which they didn’t, but only because I’m here.
“Not much, really.” My heart is thundering, about to explode and take me out with it. Not wanting to be in front of Jules when I break the fuck down, I duck under his arm. “I should probably take a shower and change before you show me around town.” My twitchy behavior is more than suspicious.
Fortunately, Jules lets me off the hook, nodding his head.
I think I might start liking him in that moment. Just a little bit, of course.
“You have your own private bathroom.” He points inside the room at a door on the far back wall. “I think Legend said something about sending your backpack here, and that he’d try to do it before you woke up. But if you need clothes and stuff, I can get you some.”
I lean to the side and spot my backpack in a chair beside the bed. “My bag’s here. I’ll probably need to pick up some new stuff, though. Legend made me pack light because he was afraid the guards at the portal would get suspicious.”
“Okay, just tell me what you need and I’ll have someone pick stuff up for you.”
“I can get it myself. I just need you to show me where the stores are.” I recall the coins Legend gave Rune last night. “Wait. What kind of money do you use here? And do you have converter stations?”
He shakes his head. “No to the converter stations, and we use Midnight coins when we purchase stuff. But a lot of times, we just use magic.”
“You have magic powers?” For some stupid reason, I glance at his fingers, like sparks are about to shoot from his fingertips.
“All wolves have a little bit of magic. It’s what allows us to shift. I have a little bit more because I’m prince, and my father has the most. Well, my mother used to until she got sick.” Anguish seeps into his tone.
The sting in my heart increases, almost as if I can feel the agony. “What sort of things can you do?”
A lopsided smile tilts at his lips, then he leans in, his breath hot against my ear. My heartrate accelerates, and not out of fear. No, the emotions pulsating through my body are the exact opposite. “Maybe if you’re really lucky, I’ll show you exactly what I can do,” he whispers.
This time, I can’t stop from shivering, my back arching, my chest pressing against his. He groans at the contact, sliding his hand across my hip, brushing his fingers along the sliver of flesh peeking out between the waistband of my skirt and shirt. The sliver of flesh branded with scars.
Heat douses over me, and I step back, putting space between us.
Worried he’ll somehow see what I keep locked away inside, I smile sweetly at him. “I think I’ll pass. I’ve already been shown plenty of stuff in my lifetime.” Then I snatch my bag, close the door, and lock myself in the bathroom.
I flatten my back against the closed door, panting for air and sick to my stomach. My body and mind are left swimming in a whirlwind of confusion.
Never have I reacted that way toward anyone before. After the werewolf attack, I could barely stand being touched. Then Jules enters my life and suddenly I’m letting him touch my scars after he whispers innuendos in my ear.
My stomach churns with queasiness as the moment triggers a series of flashbacks.
