Page 20 of King of Moon and Claws

While the sight of her in a silk robe was disarming, it did not deter the fury that shot out of his mouth with a venomous bite.

“You are lucky that Nerys is going live,” he hissed, rushing past her and into the room. “What were you thinking out there? Didn’t I already instruct you to stay where you were? Let me make it clear to you now. I am ordering you to stay in the castle. And that is final.”

Elora did not waver or recoil. She stood there with a fiery look that burned into his resolve.

“That sounds an awful lot like trading one prison for another,” she snapped at him, moving toward him with her fists curled into tight balls. “Not having a choice doesn’t exactly sound appealing.”

“I’m not torturing you,” Bastian snapped back. “There is a clear difference between the two.”

Elora let out a sarcastic cackle. It traversed Bastian’s spine like a serpent.

“And you think that makes it okay? May I remind you that Vasilis was at least encouraging me to let my powers grow, but you and that shaman seem to think that would be a dire choice for me. Without speaking with me about it, might I add.”

Bastian didn’t want his anger to take the helm and spoil any development they made, so he paused. It was a method he applied during many heated arguments with other leaders, and generally, it managed to do the trick in returning him to logic.

He rubbed at the bridge of his nose while Elora glowered at him. His anger was dissipating, and the logic of her statement began to dawn on him.

He spoke with an intentional evenness that soothed both himself and the growing severity of Elora’s rage.

“I have only been going along with Iagan’s council. I trust him wholeheartedly. He has generation upon generation of knowledge that neither you nor I have been privy to.”

Her scowl softened slightly, but her fists remained tight in defense. She took a breath, her eyes in a brooding glare.

“You said I’m in danger if I leave the castle. Hell, even if I go into town to get to know the locals. But it was my powers that saved me today. So maybe Iagan is wrong. Maybe I should be developing my powers.”

Bastian was torn. He continued to speak gently, to appeal to their present bond and relay his apprehension.

“I fear that the development of your abilities will only bring back the trauma you endured by Vasilis’s hand. What’s worse than that, I fear that if you grow in strength, you will place an even bigger target on your back.”

The lines of disapproval on Elora’s face faded as she considered his statement. Her eyes glided back over to him with caution. He felt relief when she spoke to him directly, void of the previous mistrust he feared may have ruined their connection.

“I’m not a shaman,” she said, swallowing. “But I do have my own sense of intuition. If you’d like to hear what I have to say, I am open to sharing it.”

Bastian sat on the end of the bed, patting the space next to him. There was tension between them, but he wanted to massage it away, leaving his emotions open and vulnerable to his one true mate.

It wasn’t something he was used to as king, admitting wrongdoing and having to actively make up for it. But if he wanted her love, he would have to get used to it.

“It was stupid what I did earlier,” he said earnestly. “I was angry about Nerys getting hurt. I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I’m sorry. Tell me what you are thinking.”

Elora unfurled her fingers and took another deep breath. Bastian had the feeling she wasn’t used to men apologizing for their behavior, and even more so, actually altering it.

He patted the space again. He longed to be near her and hear her thoughts.

“Come,” he whispered. “Please.”

Elora sat, leaving a tiny space between them on the bed. She spoke with comfort and assuredness, but Bastian sensed she hadn’t completely recovered from their disagreement.

“What if I’m able to develop my powers here with you, and then I can use them to help you and the kingdom win this war that Iagan is predicting?”

The thought gave Bastian a sour taste in his mouth. But as if reading his mind, she shook her head, running her hands through her hair as she pensively contemplated aloud.

“I know you'd worry for my safety. But who knows? Maybe I won’t even need to be near the battle in order to be a part of it. I wasn’t with you today, but I managed to communicate with you. Maybe I can learn to expand that communication even further.”

There was a spark in her eyes that made the king fall even deeper for his mate. His wolf begrudgingly groaned inside him, pleading for marking, but that would have to wait. There was a war on the horizon.

“There are far too many questions here to consider,” Bastian said, rubbing his face roughly enough to leave long pink indents. “There is really only one thing we can do here to get the right and proper answers that will serve us best.”

Elora’s interest was piqued. She raised her eyebrows.

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