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He’s like a cute, century-old penguin.

“Here’s my chicken coop. Do you want to meet them?”

“You have chickens? Oh my god, yes! I love birds of all shapes and sizes.”

Jules paused with his hand on the door in the fence around the chicken pen. “That is so sweet.” He pursed his lips as if to stop himself from smiling but failed, giving me the cutest pouting grin. One that could bring me to my knees.

I didn’t know why I reacted to Jules the way I did. I’d felt an instant connection to him, and not out of sympathy.

God, I wish it were just sympathy. Thoughts of him had surfaced so much over the past week, it had been disconcerting.

“Come in, they don’t bite.”

I flinched when his voice pulled me back into the moment. He held the door open for me, and I joined him in the pen.

Eight fat chickens surrounded us, clucking and cooing.

“You can give them a few of these if you like.” With a timid smile, he offered me an old-fashioned metal pot filled with grain.

Shy Jules is so sweet.

“Here, hold your hand out to them. They are gentle.” He crouched low, and I joined him, taken by his smile and the way the sun shining through the canopy of leaves glinted on his hair. He was so soft and delicate compared to me. There was no gentleness in my life. I worked hard and played harder. As one of the two enforcers on our team, I couldn’t afford to show any weakness.

That was until you lost your footing.

“Okay.”

I can try to be gentle for you, Jules.

I took a handful of grains and offered them to the chickens. Their happy clucking made my heart squeeze in my chest.

“Yes, that’s it, Nikolai. They won’t peck you.” Jules’ voice was a soft caress in the clearing.

“These are Cassiopeia and Lyra.” He indicated first a red and green, then a chocolate brown chicken.

“She’s so pretty. Aren’t you, Lyra?” The bird cooed and took some grains from me.

“Hecate, and this is Mania.” Jules rested his hand on my forearm. “Go slow. She’s a bit shy.” I didn’t hear the rest of his chickens’ names. His touch sparked feelings in me I’d never felt before.

Is this his magic?

Fourteen

Jules

Arushofsomethingpowerfulrippled through me when I took hold of Nikolai’s arm. It reverberated in my head, and I couldn’t let go of him.

What is happening?

Tearing my hand away, I rose to my feet. “I wanted to show you my pond. Would you like to see it?”

Nikolai’s warm brown eyes met mine, then one corner of his mouth curled up in a smile. “Anything, Jules.”

My bed chamber?

“Oh, wow, this is beautiful.” He slowed down as we approached the pond.

“When it is warm enough, I sometimes bathe in it. I know every fish, every water snail, and every frog.”