Page 10

It appeared the female caught it, for her cool gaze slid to mine and turned downright contemptuous—she saw me as no threat. The leash I had around my inner wolf loosened a touch at that.

Then Drake moved, taking the female’s hand in his and removing it from his face. He let her hand go to fall at her side. The female’s eyes widened briefly with hurt. A seed of wicked satisfaction sprouted in my gut.

“What brings you here, Rosalana?” Drake said. A muscle ticked along his jaw.

Rosalana’s lips thinned. “You aren’t pleased to see me…” It was worded as a statement, but her gaze was questioning.

Drake sighed deeply. “I am in the middle of something now.” He flicked his eyes toward me before returning his gaze to Rosalana. “I will meet with you later.”

No! I snarled internally, and my inner wolf’s fangs bared. Then I gave a hard blink.

Where the hell did that thought come from?

Rosalana’s lips pursed at having been so clearly dismissed. She dipped into a small curtsy. “Yes, my Lord,” she said, her tone carrying a bite to it. Then she pivoted on her heel and swept from the room.

Solarus let out a long, low whistle. “Seems like you’ll have hell to pay later,” he said, then chuckled.

“I don’t envy you there, brother.” His ruby-colored eyes flicked to me.

He dropped his voice to a low murmur and leaned over his elder brother’s seat.

“Seems like you’ll have heel coming from both ways. ” He slid a meaningful look my way.

With a small gasp, I ripped my claws from the table and tucked my hands into my lap. Apparently, my emotions were easy to read. The knowledge brought a wave of shame and embarrassment flooding through my veins.

Drake’s gaze found mine. His eyes snapped wide. Cursing under his breath, he pushed back from the table and shot to his feet.

“Will you not finish your food?” Alaria asked, surprise flickering across her features.

“My appetite has gone away with the wind,” he muttered darkly.

“You know how Mother feels about you not finishing your meals,” his sister shot back.

Drake whirled on her. “I don’t give two flying shi—” Upon seeing his sister flinch, the prince took a deep breath and clapped his hands together as if praying to the gods.

He continued, his voice softer, “I really don’t have time to worry about what Mother thinks.

I have more important matters to attend to. ”

Turning to me, Drake stepped around the table and drew near my side. He jerked his chin toward the entrance. “Let’s go. ”

I bristled, my mood already sour. I remained rooted in my seat. Drake’s eyes glowed with a hint of violet. I narrowed my eyes a fraction, allowing him to see my fangs peeking under my upper lip. He’d have to learn I was not one to be commanded around like a servant.

Shoulder muscles going taut, Drake whispered, “ Please, come with me.”

The one word, ‘please,’ snatched all the air out of my lungs.

I gaped at him. He raised a brow. Clearing my throat, I gathered my composure and rose from my seat.

Drake turned and exited the dining room.

I glanced over my shoulder at his siblings still standing there. Would he not even say goodbye to them?

“Um.…it was…”

Nice meeting you? A pleasure? What was one to say to their lifelong enemy that would sound so corny?

Alaria smirked, resting a hand on her hip. “We get it,” she said. Gesturing toward Drake’s retreating back, she told me, “You should go before he gets his panties even more twisted.”

My eyes snapped wide at her coarse words.

“What she said,” Solarus concurred, nodding his head.

“I-um…okay,” I took a few steps forward. “Bye then.”

Both siblings nodded in farewell. With that, I hurried after Drake.

He stood waiting in the long corridor for me to catch up to him, his brow twitching in irritation. When I drew alongside him, he resumed walking without a word.

“Where are we headed?” I asked .

“To your bedroom,” he replied, his tone flat. It encouraged no further conversation—though I expected that was his intention.

I pursed my lips and walked beside Drake as a blanket of silence descended over us.

My thoughts drifted back to the shadow fae female who appeared in the dining room. Her hand cupping Drake’s cheek.

I’m glad you’re safe, my Drake,” she had purred.

Anger flared deep in my belly. I fisted my hands. We ascended the stairs to the bedrooms, Drake in the lead. I paused halfway up the curving stairs.

“Who is that female to you?” I asked Drake.

Drake continued walking, his movements graceful and unconcerned with my acrid words.

“You will have to be more specific,” he said.

My eyes slit. “Don’t play dumb,” I growled. “You know who the hell I’m talking about.”

Drake paused once he reached the top of the stairs. A long moment taut with tension passed between us. I watched his back through narrowed eyes.

Drake glanced over his shoulder, the amethyst of his eyes cool.

“She is of no concern to you.”

A snarl tore from my throat. I stalked up the stairs, my hair bristling to resemble my inner wolf’s hackles raised.

“Listen up, bat boy,” I growled. “I don’t know how you guys do things in the Shadow Lands, and I know you don’t think much of us wolves and our ways.

But you should know I will never stand for playing mistress to another female.

” I paused on the step below Drake and thrust a finger into his face.

Drake turned around fully to face me, a spark blazing in his gaze.

I didn’t give two shits.

“So if you plan on entertaining another female and then crawling into my bed, prepare to have your balls ripped from your groin,” I said, my voice low, deadly.

Unadulterated shock crossed Drake’s angular features as if he had never in his life been spoken to in such a manner. I felt sick satisfaction well inside my chest at his stark disbelief.

His dark brows slashed over his eyes. “Did you just call me ‘bat boy’?”

My brows shot up. “I threatened you with this whole spiel, and the only thing your brain honed in on was ‘bat boy’?” I placed a hand atop my hip and gaped at the male. “Seriously?”

“What the hell do you mean by ‘bat boy,’” Drake growled, ignoring my question.

All I could do was stare at him; my jaw slackened.

Is he really incensed that I called him bat boy?

The corners of my lips twitched. Somehow, I couldn’t help but find that thought highly amusing.

“I don’t know,” I said sarcastically with a roll of my eyes. My gaze caught on his pointed ears. “I guess the whole dark aura thing you’ve got going on and your ears lent me the idea for the nickname. ”

Before Drake could reply, I reached out a hand and grazed my fingers across the shell of his ear. His eyes widened in surprise. The breath softly fled from my lungs.

His ears aren’t sharp like I thought they’d be…But then again, I’ve never gotten close to a shadow fae before. I’ve only heard about their physical attributes due to tales of battle passed down by our werewolf warriors.

Drake’s hand shot out, as quick as a viper, latching onto my wrist though his grip didn’t hurt me. He pulled my hand away from his ear.

His eyes flashed. “Will you stop?” He tossed my arm back to my side. “Don’t,” he bit out, “touch me!”

I glared at him darkly. “Sheesh. I was just feeling to see if they were sharp. Don’t get your panties all in a wad.”

Drake’s eyes widened. My heartbeats slammed against my chest as I noted the slight color that tinged his cheeks.

Is he…blushing?! But why the hell would he blush? I just insulted him, for stars’ sake.

I thought back to my choice of words. My mind hung on the word panties.

Oh…

I eyed his face closely. His nostrils flared, his eyes breezily flicking to my pants, or my sex, to be more precise.

My lips thinned as I felt my own cheeks heat up.

I fought down the urge to hide my sex from his eyes, knowing that would merely draw more attention to it.

My thighs rubbed together as I squirmed.

Drake blinked and shook his head as if he were fighting for control. Then the rosy hue vanished, his skin's deep caramel appearing again .

He growled low in his throat, his incisors lengthening. “Let’s just go.”

He whirled around and stalked down the wide corridor.

Shaking my head to dispel my shock and the growing seed of arousal, I hurried after him.

Drake led me down the corridor till we stopped at a large oak door.

Grabbing the gold door handle ring, he opened the door and stepped aside to allow me to peer into the room.

I looked into the gloom, my night vision picking up an assortment of furniture.

Drake then switched a light on at the side of the wall—a gasp pealed from my lungs.

A large four-poster queen canopy bed with a cream-colored downy comforter was positioned in the middle of the room.

A plush oval velvet rug spanned the floor beneath the bed.

The bed curtains were sheer as if they were made of gossamer wings, falling to drape the covers.

To the left of the bed was a window seat offset by the three bay windows— beyond which the setting sun cast brilliant beams of amber across the sky.

I stepped inside and spun in a small circle, taking it all in.

Adjacent to the bedroom spanned a large bathroom with a floating vanity and a free-standing porcelain tub with golden legs.

“It’s…it’s…,” I breathed, turning to gape at Drake.

The male shadow fae leaned against the threshold, his ankles hooked, one knee bent. His arms folded across his solid chest. He raised a brow, his eyes half-lidded.

“What?’ He asked.

“It’s so beautiful,” I replied. My chest swelled with bittersweet joy.

“The decor of the room is similar to the color scheme of the palace rooms in the werewolf kingdom. These colors are what werewolves prefer. I prefer.” Drake shrugged a shoulder as if he’d known that already.

I slowly glanced around again before a gnawing suspicion burrowed inside me. “Did you…did you pick this out?”

Drake's shoulders stiffened. He pushed off the wall and stepped beyond the threshold back into the corridor.

“Wait!” I called out, sensing he was about to leave.

He paused. “What is it?” Drake bit out.

I approached, pausing before him, close enough to feel his warm breath on my face.

I offered him a small smile. “Thank you.”

A muscle feathered along his jawline as he stared down at me. I squirmed under the intense perusal of his gaze. My tongue flicked out to wet my lips, and I caught his eyes snagging on my movements. His pupils blew wide, the dark pools nearly blotting out the lavender rings.

Tingles swept over my skin. My pulse quickened, pounding at the hollow of my throat. I felt a delicious pool of desire sink low in my belly.

I felt the claws rake across my insides.

I bit down hard on the inside of my cheek against the pain.

My inner wolf wanted Drake. I could tell in the way my body burned up inside with a fever so powerful that I feared only Drake could quench it.

Drake took a slight step forward till our chests just brushed against each other.

His breathing grew labored, his nostrils flaring as he picked up on my arousal.

Kiss me, please. The unbidden thought broke into my mind. Just one kiss, one kiss to state me through the night. My mouth flooded with moisture. I could see the veins in Drake’s neck grow distended as he fought for control. The muscles in his body grew taut with restraint .

Then I heard the sound of claws slicing out from nail beds. My eyes snapped onto the talons that broke from his fingers. My inner wolf flinched as if she’d been struck.

Does he mean to do me harm?

Drake raised his hand, claws flashing in the light of the lamps that lined the walls.

My fangs lengthened. The adrenaline pumped through my veins like pistons, my body primed for battle.

Before I could react, his hand shot out toward me, his talons slamming a mere inch from my head into the wall.

A gasp tore from my throat. My body trembled as I saw just how close those wicked claws were to my neck, to my jugular.

Drake panted above me. He dropped his head, his brow resting against mine.

“I don't want you,” he growled. He shook his head slowly, his teeth clenched. “I don’t!”

Before I could draw breath or say anything, he was gone—disappearing in a blur down the corridor, likely to his own room.

My chest heaved with labored breaths as my lungs dragged in precious oxygen.

I swallowed thickly. So, I had just come within inches of those deadly talons meeting my jugular, yet my body hummed with want.

I raked my hands through my hair, tugging at the ends.

What is wrong with me? I growled.