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I WOKE UP ON THE BOTTOMof the dry bath basin. An unnaturally hairy arm slung a possessive grip over my waist.
Carefully, I wiggled free—stifling a groan over all the aches and sores that woke with me. Alisdair taught me my fourth lesson of the day. Never taunt him about sex... because he’ll prove me wrong.
Sighing, I glanced up at the painting. A simple plan, but I had faith it would work. At least it would get him to question. Wonder why I was acting so strangely, and from there he’d begin to wonder other things.
“It was never going to be that easy,” I said softly, getting to my feet. “Oh well.” I walked—limped—away. “Time for plan B.”
Chapter Seven
Ientered the throne room later that morning, and my brows climbed for another reason.
“What’s this?” I swept the bare, quiet, near-empty room. “Is the heat cycle over?”
“No, Lady Ana.” She tipped her head to Alisdair, secretly smiling. “He saw that they bothered you, and ordered all but the guards on duty away.”
“Oh,” I said simply.
Such a thoughtful thing to do,I thought, gazing upon the whole and handsome Shadowsoul once again.Must mean he’s about to do something I’ll hate even more.
The guards clapped their hands over their noses, pressing their backs harder against the walls. I had a feeling they’d run out of the room if they were able. The night before, Alisdair covered me with so many mating marks, I had breaks all over my skin like the brush marks of the painting.
“What do I smell like?” I asked. “Is it a bad scent?”
“Just the opposite.” Aeris brushed an ant-sized speck of fluff from my shoulder. Meya forbid I look less than perfect on her watch. “You smell like rain, pine, and almond pastries baked with honey.”
Like Alisdair.
The man was a filthy, rabid beast who belonged on a leash... but he didn’t smell like one. He smelled like every free, good, and delicious thing in this world.
Just another quality I hated about him.
It was the trick of the predator. The wolf with the soft, inviting fur. The lion with the cute wet nose and majestic mane.The fierce beauty of the leopard. All of it designed to lure you in, getting you close enough until there’s no chance to scream because they’ve already ripped out your throat.
“It’s having a much different effect on you than it is me.” Bradach marched on my other side—stiff-backed and jaw clenched. “Although it might not be bad, every sense is screaming at me to get as far away from you as possible,” he gritted.
“So listen to them,” Aeris snapped, dropping her sweet tone immediately.
Bradach’s grin couldn’t be killed, not even among his obvious discomfort. “And deprive you ladies the gift of my presence? I wouldn’t dare.”
“I assure you, we’ll survive.”
I smothered a giggle.
Bradach held up his end of the bargain, despite humiliating me in the process, so as promised, I announced that he was to be my personal guard.
Well, to be accurate,heannounced it when he blew into my dressing room in the middle of me changing. He and Aeris had been bickering ever since.
I studied them both out of the corner of my eye. It was hard to figure their relationship. Bradach flirted and threw himself at her every chance he got. Aeris rebuffed him every time—hard. But in the short time I’d known her, I got the sense that if she really wanted something to stop, it stopped.
Did she enjoy his attention and making him work for it? Or had I sold my soul to another smirking devil for nothing?
As I climbed the dais, Alisdair’s tail grew from his body, wrapped around my throne, and drew it closer to him. I took one look at the thing and blushed. He took one look at me, and smirked.
Kakka, I mentally spat, though I was too busy staring at the floor to speak it. I did not want to think about the part that tail played in last night’s activities.
Foalan was already posted at his side. Bradach claimed a spot next to me, standing even further away than the day before.
“Let them in.”
