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1262 Words
I bit my lower lip, still eyeing his hand. My inner wolf whined, pawing at the confines of my mind, yearning for his touch. The longer I hesitated, the more she pawed. In the last swipe, I felt a rake of claws at my insides.
Fine, you mangy fur ball, I snapped at her.
Reaching out an arm, I slipped my hand in his. Drake interlaced our fingers, and the contact of his skin sent delicious jolts of electricity dancing over my skin.
“Let’s get one thing clear,” I told Drake. “I’m only accepting this once.”
His eyes hardened. “And I’m only allowing it once.”
“Then we have a deal?” I raised my brow.
“You got it, princess.” He said the word princess more like a tease. I glowered at him. Shaking his head, he stepped forward, and we walked hand in hand to the dining room.
“So this is the werewolf princess everyone has fussed over,” a shadow fae male said, looming over the back of my seat. His sheet of long dark hair draped over my shoulder, and I bristled at the contact. Turning around in my seat at the dining room table, I glared at him. Then I blinked at the familiar ruby-red eyes I’d glimpsed at the summit.
That’s right…he’s Drake’s younger brother.
“Solarus,” Drake said from across the table. His voice was low in warning. Too calm. I glanced at him and flinched. His narrowed eyes glowed an unearthly violet, wisps of the color leaking out from the corners of his eyes like tongues of fire.
The male hovering above me, Solarus, unsheathed his black talons and hooked them into the chair's frame. He gave a wicked grin at his older brother. “Already protective of her, are we?”
Dark flame flared to life, pooling around Drake’s form and licking at the air. I scented the air. A sharp bite of dominance wafted into my nostrils…protectiveness. A delightful heat settled in my belly, and a tingling buzzed through my insides at Drake’s concern for me. At the same time, however, I couldn’t help the prickling irritation that needled my scalp. I didn’t need any male to fight my battles.
I turned my gaze back to Solarus. Letting my claws slice out, I said in a sweetened tone, “You have five seconds to remove your talons from my chair before I rip off your crown jewels.” I hovered my claws over his groin, my lips curling into a harsh grin.
Solarus’ deeply tanned skin turned sallow as his eyes dropped to how close my wicked claws lingered from his groin. He sprang away, cupping his groin and shooting me a dark scowl as he circled around the length of the wood table to Drake’s side. My inner wolf wagged her tail, quite pleased.
Drake’s shadow flames receded. If I didn’t know any better, I'd say he was amused. Our gazes connected across the table. He offered a subtle wink. My cheeks heated to scorching proportions. I dropped my gaze and quickly pushed the food around my plate with a fork.
It was an exotic dish I wasn’t familiar with. I detected grilled chicken, but the aromatic spices that danced on my tastebuds were unfamiliar but delectable—except for the heat of the spices that nipped.
“What is this dish?” I asked Drake.
“It's called Chicken Shapala,” he said, taking another bite. He paused mid-chew. “Is it not to your liking?”
“Oh, no, it's delicious!”
A slow, tiny smile curled his lip.
Footsteps sounded from the left. I turned to find a female shadow fae entering the dining room. She had long ebony hair that streamed behind her. Her curvaceous body moved like liquid silk as she approached. I blinked rapidly, taking in her black leather skirt that barely passed her bottom. Wicked black boots were rising to mid-thigh. A tight-fitting bodice completed her daring ensemble. Werewolves were known to be sensual in our clothing, but we didn’t quite go to the length of the shadow fae, apparently.
Her amber eyes slid to mine. She offered a slow grin, her eyes narrowing a fraction. I gave a hesitant smile in return.
She turned her attention to her brothers. She blinked at Solarus.
“Why the hell are you holding your c**k?
Solarus shot her a withering glare, quickly tucking his hands into his tight navy blue pants’ pockets. “No reason,” he grumbled.
She quirked a brow at Drake.
“Ember threatened to slice off his crown jewels.”
“D-drake!” I spluttered, not wishing him to divulge such information.
She threw her head back, and laughter pealed from her throat. When she wrapped her arms around her stomach and doubled over, I found my own grin returning.
“It’s not that funny, dammit,” Solaris muttered. He folded his arms across his solid chest.
“I find it hilarious,” Drake said in a forced, monotoned voice. He glanced up at his siblings with a half-lidded expression.
Solarus snarled. “Of course you would, you bastard!”
Drake looked back at his plate, scooped a forkful, and said before taking a bite, “If you weren’t making such an ass of yourself all the time, I wouldn’t have found it amusing.” He took a bite. “That’s your own fault.”
“What did you just say!” Solarus exclaimed.
Laughter tore from Alaria’s throat.
I blinked slowly, my mind not comprehending what I was witnessing. The ribbing of siblings…it wasn’t unlike what I’d witnessed at pack outings amongst the werewolf youths. Even my brother Xanu and I had cracked a few hard ones on each other—all in good-natured fun, of course.
They’re acting so…so ordinary. I’d always imagined the shadow fae to be cold, callous, just like in battle.
My mind flashed back to the flower of my homeland, existing here amongst the fae, as I was—a werewolf in a land of shadow fae. Coexisting.
My mouth parted in wonder.
Perhaps we can all coexist…one day. One day soon…
“Well, what do we have here?” A soft feminine voice sounded.
All heads turned toward the source. Another shadow fae female stood under the arched threshold of the dining room. Chocolate brown hair cascaded down her shoulders in loose waves that fell to her waist. Her molten brown complexion gleamed under the soft light of the chandeliers, making her appear as if she were haloed in amber. As she entered the room, her willowy frame moved with lithe feline gracefulness that put my wide hips and large bust to shame.
I could never be that graceful, and seeing her caused an inexplicable knot to lodge under my sternum. I fought the urge to rub at my chest. The knot throbbed as the female drew toward Drake’s side and placed a palm against his cheek. The same manner in which Drake had touched me in the garden.
Her gray eyes gleamed silver with relief and…affection.
“I’m glad you’re safe, my Drake,” she said.
No one could miss the possessive note in her voice. Solarus and Alaria exchanged a knowing look. My inner wolf snarled and rammed against my insides, trying to force a shift to rip the rival female’s throat out. My hands gripped the table lip, unsheathed claws biting into the oak as I fought to keep my primal side leashed.
- Writer
