Page 30 of Wolfkissed
“We’re not coddling her,” Della says. “She’s been?—”
“Through some rough times? Who hasn’t, Sweetheart? Protecting her from me won’t save her.”
“What are you talking about?” Della’s face is reddening with anger. “Your roleisto protect her! You’re her bodyguard?—”
“Against my will,” Valen says. “You think I was asked if I had any interest in playing bodyguard to a sheltered, prudish human virgin?”
“Excuse me?” I breathe. “I’m not… prudish.”
“Ah, but you are a virgin.” His gaze bores into me. “And you are sheltered. All those high collars and long sleeves, not showing an inch of skin, not?—”
“You don’t know anything about me,” I bite out the words.
“You really think I’m deaf? Even a human can hear the comments people make as you pass, the Frost Princess, the?—”
“Shut up!” I’m panting, hands fisted in the folds of my dress, and before I realize, I’ve taken two steps closer to him. “You know nothing about it.”
His amber eyes seem slightly wide, fixed on my face. His gloved hands twitch in their bonds.
“My lady,” Della says after a long moment, grabbing my arm. “Step away from him. It’s not safe.”
I want to laugh, start laughing and never stop. “Of course it’s not safe,” I breathe. “It will never be safe while he’s around.”
Another silence falls. I hate these abrupt silences that stretch over the room like a web, suffocating us.
“Let’s get on with the packing,” I say just to break it, feeling its release as if it’s a physical thing. “Three trunks may sound like a lot, but my gowns take half a trunk each.”
“Your new husband will surely have plenty of gowns sewn for you,” Della says. “No need to take them all.”
Valen snorts.
“Got something to say, wolf?” I mutter. “Your people may walk around in furs, but we prudish people like to dress in silk and satin, in tailored dresses and shoes.”
“I wouldn’t pretend to be civilized to save my life,” he says, pawing at the muzzle with his bound hands. “Could you just take this thing off?—?”
“No.” Shivering a little, I turn my back to him again, hating how aware I still am of his presence. It’s like heat, a hot pulsing source I can sense without seeing. “Stop asking for that. It won’t happen.”
“My lady,” Bert says from the door. “The bells have rung for dinner. I believe you are expected to make an appearance with your newbodyguard.”
He spits the last word out like a curse.
“Am I invited to dinner, then?” Valen snarls. “Will I get a bone under the table with the other dogs?”
“Behave, and you might even get a bowl of water,” I say under my breath.
Valen huffs.
“You’re not a guest, wolf,” Bert says. “You will stand behind her and attend to her.”
The werewolf’s broad shoulders shake a little. “Figures.”
“And don’t try anything, do you hear?” Bert continues. “I’ll be nearby, keeping an eye on you. She has to show her stepfather and his guests that she won’t cower in front of?—”
“Bert,” I say. “Enough.”
An uncomfortable prickle is tightening my skin. I don’t want the wolf to know more about me, about my family and my weaknesses. My flaws. Any openings for him to get me with—if he doesn’t literally eviscerate me.
He has acted quite rationally so far. Quite calmly and… humanly. Almost. But that won’t last. Not only are the fae harder to predict, but shifters are a whole different basket of parsnips.
