Page 39 of Between Realms

“Oh, love, I’m not laughingatyou.” Jaden strokes my cheeks softly with his thumbs. “Any amusement I have with you is delight, not mockery. All right?”

I sniff and nod. Could he really mean what he says? Does he delight in me?

With his fingertips, Jaden now strokes my cheek where my scars show on my skin. “You have been through so much in your young life. I admire you for your strength. You have stood up to the prince. You fought the ghouls.” He traces the lines of my marks again.

I turn my face away, breaking the contact, wishing I wasn’t marred so he might find me beautiful.

“You should wear these marks with pride. You are a fighter. But fighters also need recovery times. Healing. Comfort.” Jaden opens his arms up to me. “Would it be too much if I hold you right now?”

“I think I can handle that.” I awkwardly hold my arms at my sides as he steps closer.

His powerful embrace feels as if it wraps my entire being from head to toe, like a blanket of affection. I bask in his warmth, but in the back of my mind, I already dread the loss. At any moment, I will float aimlessly again in the universe with no anchor. My arms tentatively move to settle at his narrow waist. When he doesn’t pull away from my touch, I relax into him and encircle his torso.

“I’m sorry you haven’t been given enough of this before. I’ve read that humans need more physical contact than elves. Your keeper should have been more attentive,” he says with frustration for me.

I pull him closer, if that’s possible. “You really don’t think that I’m a fool?”

“Of course not. And elves need their fair share of affection, too. Although we might act like we don’t. If you ever need another hug, I will be here for you. All right?”

I exhale into his rigid chest. Underneath all his muscles, Jaden is tender.

He slowly steps back, though he seems ready to jump back into our embrace if I make a sign I may need more. But I allow the distance with a grace that I’m not feeling.

“Does your skirt have pockets?” he asks, pulling at the sides of my skirt and inspecting it.

“Hm?” I frown at his non sequitur. “No. I wished it did. What use is a garment if it isn’t utilitarian? But why do you ask?”

“This blade is yours again.” He places my dagger in my hand.

“No. It’s illegal.” I walk to the weapon’s wall and rest it on top of one of the dagger cradles. “The design is my own. I made it myself when I was only thirteen.” I smile proudly.

“Impressive.” He runs his fingers over the delicate design on the handle with reverence.

For a moment, I imagine I am the blade and his fingers trace my lines.

To shake free of the naughty thoughts, I clear my throat. “If your patrols are taking care of the ghoul attacks, then hopefully, I won’t need a weapon on the roads on my way home. It’s yours now—a gift from me for your kindness.”

Jaden tenses with my mention of ghouls, then snatches the dagger down and tries again to make me take it. “That is a generous offer, but you should keep it.”

“No. I want to earn your trust. I shouldn’t have brought it here. I shouldn’t own it at all.”

“I trust you, Wyn.” Jaden sighs, relenting to my stubbornness on the subject. “Fine, I accept your gift for now, but only with a stipulation. I insist I will be the one to escort you when the time comes for you to leave the castle. And Iwillrequire that you carry a blade on you.”

I allow myself a small smile. “All right. I agree with those terms.”

“Now that this is settled…” Jaden motions me over to the bookcases. “Why don’t you pick out some books? You can read in my lounge chair while I finish my paperwork.”

Content, I find a title on human studies and curl up in Jaden’s plush chaise lounge.

15

HOLDING BACK

JADEN

As the sun sets in the sky, I nudge Wyn while she sleeps peacefully in my reading chair. She looks so lovely that I hate to disturb her, but Eldrin will be furious with me if we don’t show up for dinner.

“Wynstelle?” I call, and she opens her alluring, gold-rimmed brown eyes.

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