Page 67 of Storm of Shadows

I blow her a kiss and leave her to suffer in peace, picking up the pace and racing through the mist and across the moorland, hoping I am running in the right direction. It certainlyfeelslike I am.

The air is dank and cold, the tip of my nose and my toes freezing, but it feels good to be out here, pummeling the earth with space to think.

I’m so damn irritated about last night, seething about that bullshit display just now and confused, really damn confused. A confusion I can’t even understand, that I can’t pinpoint.

I need to find a way out of this situation. Trashing the Princes’ kitchen didn’t work, being bratty and bitchy didn’t work either. I need a better plan. I just haven’t come up with one yet. One that has them leaving me alone.

The mist is so dense, I don’t meet any of the other runners out here, I don’t even hear them. It makes me uneasy. It would be damn easy for someone to jump me right now, and, despite Thorne’s pretty sinister warning, I’m not sure how the hell he thinks he’d prevent it.

However, I make it right the way to the trees without being attacked. Waiting for me under the first few branches is not a group of girls with vengeance or murder on their minds, but a giant white wolf. Sitting all primly and properly, as if he’s been waiting for me. And maybe he has been, because when he spots me, his ears perk up on the top of his head and his tail thumpsthe ground in excitement, then he’s leaping onto all fours and bounding towards me.

“Hello, fellow,” I say as he barrels into me. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.” He licks at my hands. “Come to protect me from those girls? Actually, they haven’t been bothering me. It’s Odessa I need to worry about,” he makes a cute little bark, “yep, she’s already tried to kill me and broken my nose and I haven’t even been here a week.”

I lean over to stroke him and he buries his snout in my crotch and has a good old sniff.

“Yeah, I probably stink. I’m actually in the middle of a run. One I should probably be continuing.”

Although the affection – even if it is from a wild wolf who could probably maul me to death at worst, at best will be giving me fleas – is nice, I miss Baxter. I miss our snuggles. I miss how happy he always was to see me. He is the one thing I do miss from home.

Is that why the Princes are having this strange effect on me? A bit of tenderness from Beaufort and my insides seem to be spinning. Is it because it’s been so long since anyone touched me like that?

The wolf whines.

“I know,” I say with a sigh, “this is nice, huh?” I rub my knuckles against his broad sternum, feeling the compact muscle that lies beneath his fur. “But you probably have a pack for kisses and snuggles. Where are they?”

The wolf slurps his long tongue over my hand, then jumps up and drags his tongue over my face too.

“Okay,” I laugh, “maybe just a tad forward. This is only our second date, remember?” I stroke his ears. The wolf obviously doesn’t understand, he licks me several more times, then drops back down and buries his snout right between my legs again.

“Jeez,” I say, trying to push him away, “that’s a bit personal, boy.” He keeps his nose at the apex of my thighs, having another good old sniff. His warm breath heats my most intimate of places and then he darts his tongue out and licks there too. “Right,” I say, “and now I really do have to go.”

He whimpers as if he doesn’t like that idea, but then drops down on his stomach and rests his head on his paws. He is a huge scary wolf with razor-sharp teeth and even sharper claws and yet he looks adorable. It is very hard indeed to turn away and start running again.

I don’t even bother with the changing rooms this time. I head straight back to my tower, diving into the freezing cold shower in the bathroom and then returning to my room to get changed.

By the time I’m dressed, it’s lunchtime. I consider skipping it. Walking into the canteen alone because Fly and Clare are probably already there, is not appealing. Everyone will be gossiping about me. I’ve been invisible for so long, being thrust into the glaring-hot spotlight like this is alarming to say the least (as well as dangerous). But I’m going to have to suck it up because after that run, I’m famished.

It’s worse than I predicted. The canteen falls deadly silent as I enter and you could hear a pin drop – in fact you could hear the head of a pin drop.

Luckily, I have two new friends – who may not be good for snuggles – but can be depended upon to help me out.

“Briony!” Fly calls from across the room. “Over here! We got you some lunch and saved you a seat.”

I could lick his face because it’s a seat right in the corner which means, although I still have to walk across the canteen with everyone staring, at least I can hide away once seated.

“You’re popular,” Fly says, with a wink, pushing a bowl of soup towards me as I take the spare seat.

“I’m not sure that’s what I’d call it.”

Clare gazes around the room. “I don’t understand why more people aren’t sucking up to you.”

“Yeah,” Fly agrees, “Odessa, Julian and Gillian all have little bands of adoring fans.”

“I have you,” I say, smirking.

“Cupcake, don’t get a big head. We adore you, obviously, but not in an unhealthy or self-serving sycophancy way.”

“Trust me, I’m not getting big-headed. Although, I do have one fan.”