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“Seriously, Cole,” I say, turning back to him, holding the little wolf flat on my palm again. “This is really cool. How long have you been doing this?”

“Since I was a kid,” he says, tucking his knife back into the sheath at his side. “Mom and dad insisted we all take an interest in some art or another. Iris is a very talented singer. I did physical art – painting, sculpture. That sort of thing.”

“What does Jude do?”

Cole smirks, shrugging and looking down. “Jude is…Jude. He has a distinct amount of disdain for something that takes time and practice. But he’s secretly good at a lot of things, even though he refuses to master any of them. He’s one hell of a dancer, and a damned good writer too. Though he’d deny it all if pressed.”

The Prince grins at me, clearly proud of his brother. I laugh a little, tilting my head to look down at the wolf carving. “So, why does nobody know about this? The public wouldlovean artistic royal.”

He smirks. “Precisely why I don’t tell them. It’s just for me.”

“Well, I think you have a gift,” I murmur, holding the little wolf up and smiling as I peer at its little face. Then I sigh and hold it out to him, sad to let him have it back.

Cole lifts a hand, folding my fingers over it. “You take it. He’ll keep you safe.”

I stare at Cole for a second and then grin, quite pleased with my little gift. Deep down, I was hoping he’d let me keep it. I quickly unzip my hoodie and drop the little wolf into the breast pocket of my scrubs. “There. Now he’ll be close.”

Cole nods, smiling softly at me. Then he sits straighter, clearing his throat and holding out his hand. “Here, give me your wrist.”

“Why?” I narrow my eyes.

Cole grins, laughing at me. “Justdoit.”

I maintain my suspicion even as I hold out my arm. Cole takes my hand and turns it over, baring my wrist. Faster than I can protest, he raises his own wrist, brushing it soft and firm over mine. He reaches towards my face next, and even though I flinch back, his wrist passes quickly over both sides of my neck and then my hair before I can move away.

“What the hell are youdoing?”

“I’m scent-marking you,” he murmurs, reaching for my other hand.

I squawk, clutching it to my chest. “I’m going tosmelllike you?”

“Yes, youluckygirl,” he says, grinning, hand out, insistent. I scowl, not liking this. “Look,” he says, leaning forward, “if you smell like a wolf, the Children of Solace wolves will be less inclined to mess with you. It’ll wash off in the shower.”

I scowl but hold out my other wrist, letting him mark that as well. Because as much as I amdisinclinedto this…it makes sense.

“Hey, Shay,” Cole calls, dropping my wrist and waving her over.

Shay jumps to her feet, Greg turning with a frown as she steps in front of the Prince.

Lightning fast, Cole quickly brushes his wrist over Shayne as well. I sniff the air, trying to figure out the difference but…I don’t notice anything.

“Did – did you just scent mark mygirl?” Greg gasps, jumping to his feet.

I turn to stare at Greg and then whip my head back to Cole.

“My girl now,” Cole murmurs, winking at Shay, who bursts out laughing.

I gasp, horrified. “You said this is just about making us smell wolfy!”

Cole smirks at me. “It has many purposes.”

“Cole!”

“Oh, it’s not a big deal, Nadia,” he says, getting to his feet and offering a hand to help me up.

I turn to Greg. “Isit a big deal?”

Greg just scowls, crossing his arms and glaring at his Prince.