I open my eyes and quirk a brow. “Decided? Because, I think you may have made that decision, even before you brought me here. At least, that’s what it sounded like last night when you were telling Jules that you knew I was a paranormal since the day you met me.”
His cheeks puff as he blows out a breath. “I’m going to tell you as much as I can, but there are some things I can’t tell you, because it’s not my place.”
“Then whose place is it?”
“Your pack’s.” He gives a wavering pause. “Jules’.”
My heart flutters at the mention of his name, but I tell it to shut the fuck up. We are not going there. We can’t. At least my body and mind can’t.
“Why? Because he’s the prince?”
“That and something else.”
“You’re being vague.”
“That’s because this is part of the stuff that’s not my place to tell you.”
“Why isn’t it your place?” I ask. “I’m closer to you than anyone else here.”
“I know that. But you must understand that us paranormals live by our traditions and rules. And this stuff that I’m not telling you is heavily linked to werewolves’ tradition, and since I’m not a werewolf, it’s not my place to tell you.”
I sigh. “Fine. What can you tell me?”
He thrums his fingers against the mattress. “When I first met you, I knew right away that you weren’t human. The first giveaway was that you should’ve died from those injuries.” He lightly brushes his fingers across my waist. “But it wasn’t just that. It was how drawn I felt to you. It’s the same way with other paranormals. The few we crossed paths with noticed you, too, yet any human you were around either feared you or despised you. I think it’s because they sensed you weren’t one of them.”
“I never noticed any paranormals noticing me in the Common Realm.”
“That’s because you’re oblivious,” he teases then sighs. “You were also going through a lot and didn’t notice much of anything. You were so afraid of everyone that you rarely let anyone get close to you.” He traces the angles of my star birthmark. “Also, this was sort of a dead giveaway of what you really are.”
I touch my finger to the mark on my temple. “How?”
He gives me a look. “Lake, you have a star marking on the side of your temple. That screams magic, princess. Particularly, Midnight Realm magic.”
“So, you knew I was from your realm the entire time you knew me?” I try to battle down my anger, but a few sparks brink to the surface.
Guilt masks his expression as he nods. “I also guessed you were a werewolf.”
“How? Because Jules, Shade, and Rune didn’t seem to figure it out very quickly.”
His gaze strays pressingly to my birthmark. “I knew because that mark on your head is the mark of a werewolf.”
“So, every wolf has a star on them?”
“No, some have moons. Some have thorns. There’s a lot of different marks, depending on your pack.”
“So then, how come you didn’t know who my pack was?”
“Because I don’t know what mark belongs to what pack.” He shrugs, sitting back and resting his arms on his knees. “It’s not like I go around looking at werewolves’ marks. They’re very touchy about their marks.”
“Why’d you hide mine when we first met Jules, Rune, and Shade, then? Why not keep it on display so they would know what I am?”
“Because I wanted to ease you into the situation. I knew the moment they saw the mark, they’d start treating you like a wolf, and I didn’t want you to freak out. Little did I know you were a lost princess who has an alterum dimidium animae to a prince. The prince. The next in line for king.”
And there’s that word again. “I want to ask what exactly that—having alterum dimidium animae—means, but I’m guessing that plays into the tradition category.”
“It does. It’s actually one of the most important and most ancient werewolf traditions, right underneath the crowning selection.”
“Jules told me a little about that.” I pivot onto my hip and prop up onto my elbow. “I’m really hoping I don’t get picked to be the next queen.”
“Maybe you won’t.” His fake smile suggests otherwise. “But if you do, I’m sure you can handle it.”
“Yeah, right. I could barely handle living in the Common Realm.”
“That’s because you didn’t belong there.” He tucks a damp strand of hair behind my ear. “You are much stronger than most, Lake. Don’t ever think otherwise.”
I bob my head up and down, even though I don’t one hundred percent agree with him. “Thanks for telling me all this. I’m glad you did, but I still don’t get why you just didn’t tell me when you met me.”
“I thought about telling you a couple of times, but you were so anti-werewolf, and I didn’t want to freak you out or worry you until I had to. Besides, if I had told you in the beginning, you would’ve just been stuck in the Common Realm for a year, stressing over it because I wasn’t about to let you go into the Midnight Realm by yourself to track down your pack. Not when I didn’t know why you were in the Common Realm to begin with.” He stretches out his legs. “I knew you couldn’t remember your life before the age of eight, that whatever happened to you before then had to be terrible. And the attack … I have a feeling it might be part of it.”
“Maybe,” I mutter, wrestling down the rush of fear wanting to take over.
He lies down so he’s facing me. “I know you don’t like to talk about it, and I get it. I really do. But, eventually, I think you’re going to have to tell Jules about what those wolves did to you, because eventually, they’re going to make it back into this realm, and they need to be taken care of. So do you.”
“I don’t want anyone to take care of me,” I mumble. “I want to be able to take care of myself.”
“Then talk to Jules. Tell him what happened and ask him to train you to protect yourself.”
“You think I’m strong enough?” I’m not just talking about protecting myself.
“You’re a princess werewolf, which means you’re stronger than the average werewolves that attacked you, so yes, you’re strong enough to protect yourself.” He sits up, pulling me up with him. “And you’re also my Lake, which means you’re strong enough to tell Jules.”
“Your Lake, huh?” I cock a brow. “Nice to know you own me.”
“Oh, I don’t own you.” He slides to the edge of the bed. “And I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t say that ever again. I’d like to keep my pretty face from getting mangled.”
I start to ask him to explain further, but he’s already walking out the door.
“Now, come on; let’s get downstairs before your prince starts having a tizzy fit.”
Sighing, I drag my ass off the bed and trudge out the door with a thousand different questions racing through my mind, and at least a thousand more worries. My biggest concern is telling Jules what happened that day in the alley. I’m not sure if I can do it—reveal my broken soul to someone else—but if I don’t, Legend says I may be in danger of those werewolves tracking me down.
Why are they after me? And who exactly are they?
Chapter 15
Jules is waiting for us in a spacious living room, decorated with leather furniture, a fireplace, and a gothic chandelier. He’s not alone, either. Rune and Shade are with him.
Rune is dressed in the same combat-style outfit as Shade and is sharpening a knife. Shade has his feet kicked up on the coffee table and is flipping through the pages of an old book. Jules is peering out the window, but his gaze instantly finds me the moment I step over the threshold. He offers me a small, yet concerned smile.
“Everything okay?” he asks, turning away from the window.
I nod, forcing a smile.
“Good.” He crosses the room with his hand outstretched. “Ready to go see the kingdom?”
“Or, do you want to go up and hide in your room some more.” Shade winks at me a
s he lowers his feet to the floor.
“I wasn’t hiding.” Well, I was while I was in the shower, but he doesn’t know that. “I was talking with my friend.”
“Sure, you were.” Shade jumps to his feet and strolls past me, giving me another wink.
I throw up my hands. “I don’t even know what that wink was for.”
“Sure, you don’t.” Shade winks again.
Jules sighs, lowering his outstretched hand. “Just ignore him. Shade thinks everything is a joke.”
“That’s because it is,” he says, then calls over his shoulder, “Except protecting you two, of course.”
Rune groans as he pushes to his feet. “Great, he’s in a mood.”
“When isn’t he?” Jules remarks.
“Good point.” Rune tucks the knife he was sharpening into an ankle holster then nods his head at me. “Good afternoon, Lake.”
“Afternoon?” I question. “Is it that late already?”
Rune nods then walks past me, striding for the front door. Legend follows him, fiddling with a pocket watch he fishes out of his pocket.
“Man, I feel lazy,” I mutter as Jules tangles his fingers through mine.
I start to pull away, but then stop myself. I don’t even know why, other than part of me wants to hold his hand. Perhaps all those years in foster homes has me starved for human connection. Then again, neither of us are human.
“You’re not lazy,” Jules insists as we stroll out the front door behind Shade and Legend. Rune remains walking behind us. “You’ve had an intense forty-eight hours.”
“Yeah, but I’ve been asleep for a lot of those hours.” I squint against the sunlight as we trot down the stairs and step onto a dusty road. “Seems like I should be more awake than I feel. Maybe I have jet lag or something.”
“Jet lag?” Jules questions.
“It’s a human term for a tired spout that comes usually after flying on a plane.” I glance at him. “You know what a plane is, right?”
“Those things that fly in the air?”
“Do you have them here?”
He chuckles. “No, we have teleportation.”
“That sounds way better than flying,” I admit, my gaze roving along the quaint homes and stores lining the street.
“It is.” He gives my hand a squeeze. “See, it’s not so bad here, right?”
I waver. “It’s not that I think it’s bad here. It’s just scary and unfamiliar.”
“You don’t need to be scared.” Jules hitches his thumb at Rune walking behind us and then at Shade ahead of us. “They won’t let anything happen to you.”
I smile, but the move is forced. My uneasiness only increases as werewolves wander out from their homes and stores to gawk at us, some appearing mildly curious, others pissed off.
“Why are they staring at us?” I whisper low to Jules. “And why do some of them seem pissed off?”
“They’re just curious about you,” he tries to reassure me. “None of them are pissed off.”
Yeah, tell that to the group of male and female werewolves standing on the corner of the street near Silver Death Bar.
I look away from the group as we near them. “Do they know who I am?”
“Some do, but don’t worry; no one here is going to hurt you. This is your pack, Lake. And packs protect their own.”
I hope he’s right; otherwise, the werewolves who attacked me could be living here.
My pulse rapidly speeds up. Why hadn’t I thought of that before?
My gaze darts around the street, searching for my attackers. But there are so many werewolves around.
My head begins to spin with anxious dizziness. Luckily, Jules leads me off the main road and down a small, isolated dirt path that snakes into the forest.
As we near the trees, we pass by a bush of thorny vines. Jules maneuvers me to the opposite side of the path and positions himself between me and the ill-striking bushes. His protective nature is so instinctive I wonder if he acts this way with everyone.
I suddenly become more on edge as the feeling of being watched over comes me. The same feeling I had the day I was attacked.
Right before we venture into the trees, I notice short, shadowy, faceless figures creeping through a cluster of rose bushes.
“Don’t worry, they won’t hurt you,” Jules says, tracking my gaze.
“What are they?” I whisper, unable to tear my eyes off the moving shadows.
Sadness consumes Jules. “They’re a group of wolf cubs that wandered into the vines.”
“That’s what the poison does?” My heart constricts when Jules nods. “Those poor cubs. And your mom.”
Jules looks away, his hand tightening around mine.
I keep my eyes on the shadow cubs until we enter the forest. Then they disappear from my sight. But the images of their poor faceless figures haunt my mind.
Maybe I should help Jules find a cure?
Yeah, how are you going to do that, Lake? You’ve known you were a werewolf for a whole couple of days and you know nothing about this world.
I blink from my thoughts, unsure what to do.
“Where are we going?” I ask as we hike farther into the trees.
“To the fighting pit,” Shade throws over his shoulder. “I need to pick up a few weapons.”
Fighting pit? That sounds … violent.
“It’s where we train to fight,” Jules explains, as if reading my mind.
“Oh.” I trade a glance with Legend, and he gives me a pressing look, urging me to ask Jules to train me. “What do you train to fight against?”
“Other paranormals.” Tension ravels in his shoulders. “Honestly, our biggest threat is other werewolves. But only from different packs.” His fingers stiffen in mine. “My father has a way of pissing off other werewolves.”
“Because his father is a prick,” Shade adds, slowing down to walk beside Jules and I.
Jules winces, his free hand curling into a fist. “Careful. That’s our king you’re speaking about.”
“I’m not afraid of your father, like everyone else in this kingdom is.” Shade draws out a knife and carries it at his side. “Besides, one day he’s going to be our ex-king.”
“When he dies,” Jules stresses. “Which could be decades from now with how slow he’s aging.”
“He’s aging slow? Is that normal for a werewolf.”
Jules shakes his head, frowning. “No. And more than likely he’s doing something to slow down his aging process, probably so he can rule for longer. Paranormals do that sometimes. Find spells and potions to chase immortality.”
“But Jules’ father isn’t the kind of werewolf you want to become immortal.” Shade raises the knife up in front of him, the silver blade glinting in the sunlight. “If only we could find a way to end his reign.”
My hand spasms in Jules’. “You’re going to kill him?”
As birds scurry from the trees, I inch closer to Jules.
“Shh …” Shade hisses at me. “That’s not what I’m saying at all.” He exchanges a wary look with Jules. “You should probably warn her about him.”
The veins in Jules’ hand bulge as the silver rings char his skin. “I’d rather not tell her just yet.” Smoke funnels from his skin. “Tell her about … him.”
The scent of burnt flesh stings my nostrils. My eyes begin to water, my stomach twisting with nausea.
“Okay, I can’t take this anymore.” Slipping my fingers from his, I swing around in front of him and snatch ahold of his hand.
His eyes pop wide as his metal rings blister my flesh. “What’re you doing?” He attempts to yank his hand away, but I wiggle a ring off his index finger.
“I’m tired of the smell of burnt flesh.” I toss the ring into the trees and pry another ring off his thumb. “And I’m tired of you hurting yourself.” I chuck that ring, as well, then remove the remaining rings on his fingers. “I may not know you very well, but that doesn’t mean I’m just going to stand here and let you
hurt yourself. It’s not right.” I hurl the rings into the trees and wipe my healing palm against the side of my leg. “And don’t try to feed me that bullshit about you wearing them to gain respect. I know there’s more to it than that.”
Jules smashes his lips together forcefully as his eyes illuminate violet. “I think I need to talk to you alone.”
“And that’s our cue to go.” Shade nods his head at Legend and Rune, jogging backward down the path. “We’ll be at the pit,” he tells Jules. “Try not to take too long.” A smirk quirks at the edges of his lips. “And yell if you need anything.” The last part is directed at me. Then he spins on his heels and runs up the path.
Rune follows, whizzing by us, his long legs taking hurried strides. Legends starts after them, as well, hurrying past me.
“Wait. Where are you going?” I snag his sleeve.
Jules lets out a deep growl, but I ignore him, focusing on Legend, waiting for him to answer.
Legend pats my arm. “I’m pretty sure Jules is about to answer one of your many questions.”
“Why can’t you stay here with me?” I sound pathetically weak, but I’m afraid. Afraid of what Jules is going to say. Afraid of what I might do when we’re alone.
“You’ll be okay by yourself with Jules,” Legend assures me. “You don’t need to be afraid of him.”
“I’m not afraid of him,” I insist. “I just don’t want you to go.”
“I won’t be very far away.” He casts a glance at Jules, then wiggles his arm from my grip and backs away from me. “Like Shade said, just yell if you need anything.”
I glare at him as he turns his back to me and hikes farther down the path and into the shadows of the trees.
My heart thunders in my chest as he vanishes entirely out of sight, along with Rune and Shade, leaving Jules and I alone.
“I don’t want you to be afraid of me,” Jules speaks softly from behind me.
I twist around and meet his now cautious gaze. “I’m not afraid of you. I’m just confused why everyone thinks we need some alone time.”
He studies me for an unsettling handful of seconds before his gaze descends to his bare hand. “You know, you’ve done that to me before.” He flexes his hand. “Taken off my rings.”