Page 51

My fae eyes were sharp enough to see everything that lurked in these shadows, but I had a feeling Wolf could see more.

He surprised me. He was a specimen of a fighter, that much I was willing to admit. He only sparred in front of the group a couple of times, but each time was like watching an artist.

He was calculated. Stronger than anyone I had ever seen. Elegant.

Violent.

I turned again, walking out of the castle and following the path to the trees that surrounded the place. It was strange; I had been at the academy for a while now and had only been outside in the courtyard. I hadn’t even bothered to come back here.

The still air held a chilling coolness.

“Late-night walk?” Wolf’s raspy voice interrupted the silence.

I spun on instinct and slammed straight into his chest. His hands gripped my upper arms as he backed me up into the bark of the nearest tree. I couldn't control the grunt that escaped my mouth.

Wolf moved his arms so one hand splayed flat against my torso, the other creating a bar across my shoulders, pushing me against the tree.

Once again, his strength shocked me. My stomach dropped at the sight of him.

It was divine and utterly sickening.

“Pretty much,” I answered stiffly. There wasn’t much I could say to get me out of this situation; Wolf pretty much caught me looking for him.

“Careful,” he said with a tilt of his head. “It’s beginning to look like you’re following me.”

I scoffed, “That’s ridiculous.”

“Really? Then what are you doing out here, Huntress?”

“I could ask you the same thing.”

“Maybe, but you didn’t.”

We stared at each other in the darkness. I could still see the sharpness of his features. The ice in his eyes became illuminatedin the moonlight. His eyes scanned my face, too, and I suddenly felt much too vulnerable. The hand pressed against my torso emitted a warmth that sent goosebumps down my arms.

“You’ve been gone,” I managed to whisper.

He loosened his hold on me slightly but didn’t let go. “I figured you’d prefer it that way. Miss me already?”

“No, I—”

“Because if your nights are getting lonely, I can always come back and—”

I stomped on his foot and shoved against his chest with all the strength I had left.

He barely budged, but then he grabbed both my wrists and pulled me to him until our chests were touching. He towered over me, bending his head above mine until all the moonlight was blocked from my sight.

There was nothing but him; dark and dangerous, glorious and confusing.

“Tell me why you’re following me.”

“I was curious,” I whispered. It was a truth that gutted me to admit, but I wasn’t sure why. “I mean, where have you been? I’ve barely seen you here at all over the last couple of days. I thought you might have left altogether.”

He smirked. “And leave you here all alone? You aren’t that lucky.”

Wolf finally let go of me and backed away. A cool breeze replaced the heated buzz of his presence.

“Then where? Please tell me you’re not sleeping in the woods like an animal.”