Page 77 of Exiled Heir

I startled. Jay might as well be showing me his belly.

“Hey, I’m sorry. You’re right. I’ll work on not letting him get to me.” The brush around me swayed in the breeze, scratching against my pants. “What are they even doing out there?”

Jay sighed. When he turned to me, he didn’t look angry. The grooves carved in his face were made by anxiety.

“Like I said, the gym in town feels a little sterile for some of them. We don’t get a chance to act like a pack, so… I guess you’re not exactly wrong. Out in the forest, it’s easier to feel free.”

“Jay, do you feel trapped?” The question was suddenly the only one I could ask. I didn’t care about some wolves playing at an ironman triathlon in the forest.

Isaac and Jay had given every impression they were in love. Every look, every touch of support spoke of affection. The way that Isaac immediately stood up for his lover, the way they smelled like each other created a narrative that they were paired only because of their love for each other, but Cade and I were walking around smelling like each other, and I knew exactly how much appearances and scents could hide.

“We are all trapped.” Jay looked at me intensely. “Allof us.”

The emphasis made me start. Who was he talking about? Just the wolves who had agreed to be collared? Or every single person on House Bartlett land?

Jay blinked at me, his soft brown eyes widening as he realized what he had said. He took a step back, the brush rustling like a rabbit fleeing from the scent of a predator.

“Can you find your way back?” he asked.

I nodded, knowing I should let it go but unable to stop myself. He was pack. Or… not pack, but something close, the start of a pack, the way that two teenage boys might form something when they were both outcasts in high school.

“Jay, who’s trapping us?”

He shoved his hand into his pocket, and I heard the click of stones. When he pulled his hand free, he was worrying a small rock, barely the size of his fingertips. Shaking his head, he turned, walking away. When I moved to follow, he held up a hand, saying over his shoulder, “I’ll see you later.”

I watched him disappear, moving through the undergrowth quickly.

I’d forgotten to tell him what Cade had told the servants. Hopefully, Cade had already told Isaac, otherwise it was going to be very obvious that something bad had happened to Keith.

I turned toward the house, beginning my trek back. My ears caught every hint of sound, but none of the wolves from the forest gym followed me. I felt a tightening around my neck. Reaching up, I brushed my fingers across the fabric. I couldn’t feel the tattoo with my fingertips; the ink lay flat against my skin. Still, I could feel Basil shifting and moving.

“Doyouknow what he meant?” I asked.

Yes. The word hissed in my ear, and I jerked away.

Spinning, I tried to find the source, but there was nothing. The only thing around was me.

Feeling like an idiot, I asked, “Basil?”

Yes.

My blood ran cold. Was that why Cade had given me his snake? To spy on me? To see and hear everything I did?

“You know what I’m saying?”

Sentient magic.

The words were dismissive, disdainful almost. A slight English accent hinted in the vowels.

“Right.” I forced myself to continue walking. “So you saw everything?”

Basil tightened around my neck, flexing before relaxing.

Can’t see. Covered up.This time, the annoyance was clear.

“Right.” I nodded, feeling some relief. Then I realized how trapped he must feel, only able to see light at night when I was wearing a low-collared shirt. Awkwardly, I tugged at the collar, pulling it down. “Better?”

Scales dragged across my skin.