Page 70 of Between Realms

The entire way back to my chambers, Jaden is disturbingly quiet again.

Just before we reach my room and my voice can reach the door guard’s ears, I whisper, “Why were you so upset at the prince? Is it truly because you smelled my perfume on him? Or is there something else I should know?”

Opening my door, Jaden abruptly ushers me inside. An instant after closing the door, he corrals me against the wall.

My heart races, unsure of his aggressive response.

Bracketing his arms on either side of my head, he leans in so close that I could easily kiss him if I dared. “You’re asking for your death, staying here with him.”

My eyes widen. “Areyougoing to kill me?” I don’t sense murderous intentions, but elves are often hard to read.

“No. Not me.” Jaden jerks his head back, as if just realizing his dominant position over me. “The king’s commander, Turgon, has been asking about you. He is not particularly fond of… well, anyone besides himself. I don’t want to see you get hurt. This is all too dangerous for you here. The prince is risking your life so he can—” He looks away.

“Go on, finish your sentence… so he canuse me for entertainment? I know what he’s doing. I’m not as dim-witted as you elves think I am.” I narrow my eyes and continue my challenge before he can respond, “Or are you just worried that the prince will be grumpy if his toy gets broken before he’s done playing with it?”

“That’s not what I am saying,” Jaden snaps. “Not at all.”

“Why do you care what happens to me?”

His jaw tightens. “How can you say that? Just because you’re mortal doesn’t mean I don’t care. Haven’t I made that clear to you by now?”

I search his violet eyes. Maybe he does care about me. “All right.” I raise my hands up in surrender, but Jaden is so close, I accidentally skim his gloriously muscled chest.

Just then, Oakes flings the door open and sees Jaden pinning me against the wall with my hands pressed against his chest. At a brief glance at our shocked faces, Oakes can’t tell if I have consented to Jaden’s apparent advance or not.

Grabbing Jaden, Oakes tosses him off me. I shove myself away from the wall and retreat to the corner.

Are they going to fight? Over me? It makes no sense.

Oakes slams the door shut, turns to Jaden, and says in a deadly calm voice, “Explain.”

“It was nothing.” Jaden puts his hands out in a gesture to relax Oakes.

“Didn’t look that way,” Oakes growls. “Get. Out.”

Jaden glances at me, apologizing with a look.

“Go,” Oakes orders. When Jaden closes the door behind him, Oakes turns his glower at me. “What did he do to you?”

“He warned me to leave.” Slightly frightened by his anger, I remain in the corner. “Intensely. But nothing happened.” When Oakes doesn’t respond and continues his furious stance, I shift further into the corner. “What areyougoing to do?”

He blinks, confused. “What?”

“Now, you look like you’re going to ripmyhead off.”

“Of course not.” Oakes softens and relaxes his fists. “Jaden appeared as if he was about to force himself on you.”

“Oh, I thought it might seem like we were kissing.” I add, “Which we weren’t.”

“It appeared that way, but I sensed irritation in you.”

“You can read my emotions?”

“When I focus and don’t behave as a thick-skulled troll.”

I venture out from the corner and explain, “Jaden is upset that the prince spent last nightwithme.”

“I’m… concerned too. Eldrin puts you in an increasingly precarious situation every time he pushes yourfriendship.” Oakes runs his hands through his thick, brown hair. “The delegations will begin arriving tomorrow. And there is one, in particular, who will not be pleased with the prince’s attachment to you.”

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