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ICOULDN’T STOP SEEINGthat hideous beast in my mind while I was preparing food for our dinner. Not even gutting the chicken was able to distract me.

All my life, I’d heard stories of the black wolves, our enemy from generations past. They were said to be ferocious yet beautiful creatures. But that...thingwas far from beautiful. It was more like something out of my worst nightmare.

Its skin had been a sickly bluish gray, like the rotting flesh of those who’d died during the plague. The color of their corpses before we’d burned them. Its back was humped and arched unnaturally, with strange spikes down its spine. Its limbs were spindly and knobby, ending in razor-sharp claws. And that face... a shiver coursed over my spine at the memory of drooling fangs and red eyes.

A cusith.Jax and Tannin knew what they were and had obviously fought them before, but I’d never even heard of them. Where did they come from?

And the way Jax had slain it so easily, so swiftly... I sighed with a mix of gratitude and awe. His combat skill and strength had been incredible to witness, and I was so grateful to him for saving my life. He may be a smartass and kind of a jerk, but he’d defended me when he didn’t have to, and I adored him for that.

What would I have done if he hadn’t been there, if these men hadn’t come at all? That thing would have eaten me alive. Now, more than ever, I had to convince them to stay. I needed them, but I also wanted them more than I could explain.

Even when Jax had been rude to me in the hen yard, I’d felt drawn to him, compelled to win him over and get closer. I ached to touch them both, burned to do even more than just that. No potential suitor, or any man for that matter, had affected me like this in the past.

Was it only because they were the first people I’d seen in fourteen months? Was it because they were both so heartbreakingly gorgeous, and I’d first seen them in all their brutal naked glory?

Remembering their exposed bodies made my core throb and my thighs clench as I took the chicken out of the oven, nearly dropping it in the process. I was being ridiculous. I had to control myself or I’d scare them off.

I carried the roasted chicken, vegetables, and apple pie to the dining room, then went about setting plates and silverware to make everything look perfect. The table in here was long, meant for the times when we hosted many people, but I focused everything around the three chairs at one end.

Willow had popped her head in at one point but had quickly assessed the situation and vanished again. I made sure her bowls were filled with food and water so she could come and go as she pleased.

It was a little strange that she was so stressed about our guests, but they were strangers after all. And she was probably as shocked to see other humans as I was.

When I had everything set and as perfect as it could be, I found the men huddled in quiet discussion in the den by the fire. They stopped their conversation at my entrance and looked at me expectantly.

I cleared my throat. “Dinner is served in the dining room. I prepared roasted chicken, vegetables, and apple pie for three of us.”

Jax arched a brow, but Tannin smiled.

“Sounds delicious,” he said, then rose from the couch, slapping Jax’s arm with the back of his hand to encourage him to follow.

I ushered them to the dining room and took the seat at the head of the table, patting the spots on either side of me for them to sit.

Jax rolled his eyes as he sat to my right with obvious reluctance, and Tannin politely settled into the chair on my left, beaming at the meal before him.

“This looks and smells very good,” Tannin said as he reached for the large knife beside the chicken and began to slice off one of the legs. “You are so kind to do this for us.”

To my surprise, he set the leg on my plate instead of his, and my heart melted.

“You should have seen her trying to catch the chicken,” Jax said with a laugh, pulling off the other leg with his bare hands. “She’d still be chasing them around the yard if I hadn’t swooped in and caught one for her.” He took a big bite out of it as he scooped a giant helping of vegetables onto his plate.

I clenched my jaw at his derision, struggling to remain silent and just take it. It really helped that he was so fucking handsome. Maybe if I just looked at his face, I could ignore his words and attitude.

“Forgive my friend,” Tannin said, shooting a warning glance at Jax as he carved himself a piece of the breast. “He’s not used to being in the presence of royalty.”

“Ha!” Jax barked a laugh with a mouthful of food.

I picked up my knife and fork and cut a small bite from the chicken leg. “That’s alright. I’m not used to being in anyone’s presence, so who am I to judge. I’m just glad to have company.”

Tannin offered me a sad half-smile before focusing on his food, and an uncomfortable silence fell over us.

For a seemingly endless few minutes, no one said anything, and the quiet was unbearable. I didn’t know what to say or how to start a conversation. So many times I opened my mouth then closed it again, thinking better of what I was going to voice.

“Oh, for God’s sake, will you just spit it out already?” Jax complained. “You look like a floundering fish, and it’s getting really annoying.”

Embarrassment burned in my chest and up my neck. I bit my lip, feeling foolish.

“And stop biting your lip like that,” Jax muttered under his breath.