Page 106 of The Path of Blood and Betrayals

“Good night, shifter.” I slam the door in his face and bolt it for good measure.

Chapter 37

Kaden

The small room barely holds the two cots and a cold fireplace. There’s nothing beyond a pitcher and bowl for a bath.

What I wouldn’t kill for hot water in a tub back in my private baths. I long for my home and to be done with this mission.

I hear my sister and brother bid the shifter goodbye, and I wait until his steps grow silent before moving from the door. The cabin smells like fresh cedar and something musky that reminds me of wet dog.

It smells like Wulf.

The beast growls, pulling at my control, as I strip from my tunic, and strike a match. It takes only a moment for the fire to light and to bathe the room in warmth.

Max walks up beside me, arms crossed, glaring at the fire.

She’s never had to say it, but fire scares her. I smell it on her, have seen her apprehension at the palace. She traces her scar and I know, whatever happened to earn that scar, stems from this fear.

Shuddering, she rubs her arms and I sigh. “Come here.” I pull her closer to the fire and she stiffens, frozen in my arms.

“Relax, Max. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

At my words, her shoulders ease, body melting against me. I rub my calloused hands over her back, spreading warmth along her flesh. This close I can smell her spicy violet perfume, something that clings to her even after days in the forest.

“He knows what I am.” She presses her face into my chest and I exhale, hearing the vulnerability in her voice.

She trusts me enough to show it. And I plan on tricking her.

“I think he knows you’re not entirely Human,” I answer truthfully. “And because of that, it makes him interested in you.”

“Which is dangerous.” She sighs. “If he tries to figure out what I am, he either wants to use me or he’ll tell the Humans and then I run the risk of them knowing.” Soulful eyes, so wide and brimming with emotions, stare up at me. “Men do not take well to women with uncontrollable power.”

“Weak men,” I remind her, “do not. Don’t group all males together.”

She smiles softly at me and it’s the first time I’ve seen such a beautiful picture.

It lights up her face, flushing her pale cheeks. Her oceanic eyes glow from within, the happiness sparking throughout her body like a jolt.

I’m transfixed, unable to look away, chest tight.

“You’re not a fan of him,” she comments, digging closer to my chest. The fire has turned the cool cabin into an inferno, but I refuse to move away. “Reid said you’re trade partners.”

She feels right under my hands. Like another half and I gather her close.

“We are,” I growl, hands fisting at the nape of her neck. “I know Wulf. He’s only interested in things that will give him more power. Similar to my father.”

I don’t know why I brought him up. Maybe because I need to talk to someone, not my siblings, and Max sees something in me others don’t. She’s the first to do so and amazingly, I trust her.

I trust her not to hurt me. I trust her tochooseme.

Nodding, her hands grip my belt, and I have to bite back a curse. With her so close, my body is reacting violently.

My cock strains against my leathers, remembering the last time I was this close to her. How badly I wanted her, how I would have prayed to whatever God for her.

“Your father sounds like a real piece of work.”

I can’t help but laugh. “Something like that.”