Page 28 of Exiled Heir

“Whatever drugs the two werewolf hunters gave me affected my ability to shift. They were getting their supplies from some con artist in the valley. But, it turns out, even con artists can be right twice a day.” Crossing my arms, I fisted my hands before relaxing.

“When will you be able to shift again?” Cade asked.

I fisted my hands so tightly that my nails bit my palms. “I don’t know. This is the first time I’ve been kidnapped and given some sketchy black-market drug by werewolf hunters because of the bounty my employer put out on my head.” I raised my eyebrows. “If it’s a problem, it will bemyproblem. Like you said, you can take care of yourself.”

“Yes.” Cade looked me over again, nodding. “I can.”

As he turned back to the closet, he said, “Ex-employer.”

“What?” I asked.

“Your ex-employer put a bounty on your head.I’myour current employer.” Then he was in the closet, and I wasn’t sure what response he expected.

With nothing to do, I sat back down on the bench I had slept on and stared at my hands, willing them to shift, desperate to see the sharp point of claws, the dusting of fur. I could hear Cade moving in the closet, the scrape of hangers on the bar. I found myself straining to hear the shift of cloth, the rustle of fabric as it dragged over his skin.

When he came out, he was fully dressed in an outfit that looked identical to the one from the night before. High-necked shirt, suit jacket, tight slacks, boots.

My gaze lingered on the boots, remembering the feel of them grinding against my cheek. Had that been less than a day ago?

“If it’s true that you can’t shift, I’ll put some protection spells on your clothes. I can’t put the spell on you—there’s a chance it would make you explode.” Cade threw clothing at me.

I caught them and found a high-necked shirt like the one he wore, as well as a pair of pants. Holding the shirt up against my chest, I tugged it down slightly. “These aren’t going to fit me.”

Cade huffed a sigh and stepped forward. I sniffed the air as he got closer. Something about his scent was familiar now. As though sleeping in the same room as him made my body recognize him in a way I hadn’t with any of my previous roommates.

“You couldn’t have brought your own clothes?” Cade’s eyes were on the cloth, his thumb stroking over the fabric.

“It’s not like I packed anovernight bagfor my own kidnapping,” I muttered.

“Yes, well, plan better next time.” Cade’s eyes flashed, going stark black, small pinpricks of light appearing in the dark, as though when I stared at his eyes, I was traveling through space.

I felt the fabric shift, lengthening under my hands. The black lines moved along Cade’s arms, shifting quickly into forms I didn’t recognize.

Then he stepped back, gesturing with his hand. “Hurry. Try it on.”

I stood, pulling off the soft cotton shirt I had worn to bed and pushing down the pants. Cade inhaled sharply, and I hadn’t realized how close he was still standing.

His eyes were fixed on my groin, and I looked down, realizing that I hadn’t been wearing any underwear. Slowly, I stepped out of the pants. Every brush of the fabric against my skin felt loaded, suddenly taking on more meaning.

Cade’s eyes flew to mine, the chilly blue cracked. I could see the deep water flowing beneath the ice. A warm flush rose on his cheeks. He turned away first, striding back to his bedside table and fussing with a watch and his phone.

I put on the clothes, pants dragging over my calves and thighs. The fabric looked expensive, but they felt like jeans, slightly thicker but giving me enough range of movement that I would be able to fight if I had to. Then I lifted the shirt, pulling it over my head. The sweats last night had been the softest thing that I’d ever put on, but this was somehow even softer. I rubbed a hand over my chest, luxuriating in the feel.

Adjusting the fall of the shirt, I said, “I’m decent.”

Cade turned around, all color gone from his face. He finished fastening his watch. “If anyone asks, we’ll tell them that we’ve already bonded, but you’re uncomfortable wearing the collar in public, so you’re wearing high-necked shirts until you get used to the feel of the collar.” Cade’s eyes fell to my bare feet. “Shoes.”

“I had shoes last night. I think I left them in the shower.” I shrugged. The entire experience had been tainted by Tyson’s arrival.

“Oh, normally, they bring laundry in after I leave for the day. But…” Cade pressed his palm to a section of wall next to the door, and it slid open. I wasn’t familiar enough with magic to tell, but it resembled his hidden pet cage. Inside was a large space with a dumbwaiter. My clean clothes and boots were neatly stacked inside.

Stepping back, Cade gestured, and I took all of my clothing out, sitting back down on the bench to put on my socks and boots. They were leather, black boots that worked just as well when I wanted to kick in a door as when I walked silently through an apartment building until I found the right door to kick in.

Someone had shined them, giving them a soft gloss that made them look almost new. As I put my foot in, I heard a crinkle of paper and pulled loose a note. Someone had gone to the trouble of hiding it in my clothes, and I glanced at the words as I palmed it.

You need to leave. I know who you are.

My blood froze, and I swallowed, hiding the note in my sock as I made a show of adjusting my shoes.