Page 48 of The Kingdom of Ruin

“It’s fine,” I muster, eyes pinched shut. I take a deep breath and hold it until warmth spreads over my skin. I peer down to watch in wonder as the wound begins to heal.

“Why can’t a mage heal the wound? Because it happened during a duel?” I ask to distract myself from the fact that my skin is literally knitting itself back together.

“Calling a duel adds a whole other layer of magic to the equation, which only the wolf claimed from your dueling can heal.”

“So I’m guessing all of my protests that it wasn’t a duel went unheard?”

“Yup.”

“Well, thanks…for helping heal it, at least,” I mutter awkwardly. Thanking people isn’t something I’m entirely used to. I do things myself. Always. Outside of my sister and father of course.

“Yeah,” he grunts in response, avoiding my gaze as he focuses on the almost-healed wound. “You showed her mercy,” he states a moment later, making me frown.

“I did.”

“Why?”

I shrug, instantly regretting the pain that ebbs from my chest still. “Because I don’t want my path to the throne to involve killing people unnecessarily,” I answer honestly, and he snickers, but there’s no humor.

“You’re not going to make it to the throne.”

I smile, looking around the room instead of anywhere near him. “If you say so.”

“I know so.”

“Okay.”

I can feel his eyes on me, but I just smile despite the pain I’m in.

“Why don’t you argue back?” he pushes, clearly wanting more from me.

“I’m not wasting my breath when my actions will prove my point for me,” I retort, turning toward him to meet his waiting gaze.

“You’re definitely feisty.” His words are laced with…something; it’s a little intoxicating, but I squash it back down.

“So I’ve been told.”

He reaches out, brushing a loose curl back off my face before his thumb sweeps down my cheek, holding my chin as he stares at me.

I feel like I can’t breathe all over again. It’s a sensation I’m not interested in, but I can’t seem to push past it with him this close.

“All healed,” he rasps, making me gulp, and I scramble to cover my chest the best I can.

“Thanks.” I can feel my pulse quickening, and I can’t seem to calm it down, so I decide speaking will cover it instead. “What you said back there, you were joking, right?”

“About what?” his thumb remains on my face, inching closer to my parted lips, and I can’t move.

Gulping, I try to clear my throat but fail miserably. “About the fact that Leticia will know who you belong to and back off.”

“That’s true.”

Nodding slightly, I wet my dry lips as I stare deep into his eyes, searching for the truth before I’ve even spoken. “Which is great for keeping her at arm’s length, but it doesn’t affect anyone else, right?” I’m greeted with silence. The kind of silence that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. “Right?” I repeat, eyes widening with every second that passes.

“When you’re a member of the Kenner pack, exiled or not, news travels fast.”

“And what news will that be?” I know the answer in my gut already, but I want to hear him say it.

He inches closer, his nose touching mine as his eyes pierce me so deeply I’m certain he’s grazing my soul. “That I’m yours…until someone else beats you in a duel.”

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