Page 36 of A Bond in Blood

“Tonics, several times a day even when she leaves this room in two days. I will return to apply salve twice more today and three times each day after.”

Olen nodded in acknowledgement and my heart sank as I watched the only tether I had to my home walk away. Once alone, Olen turned to me, his canines shining against his black lips.

“Sleep well?”

I laid back down, waving him away.

“Your king allowed me this privacy. I request you respect it.”

“Can’t do that,” he replied roughly.

“Why not,” I asked, glancing back at him.

“Ulrich only gave you these chambers until you were healed. He never said you were to be left alone.”

Frustrated tears ran down the corner of my eyes while I refused to look back at the fae.

“How does that healer know my grandmother?”

His clawed paws clicked against the floor, but I kept my eyes on the canopy. The bed shifted, and I jumped as Olen crawled into the bed beside me. Like he was some large pet searching for warmth and soft caresses.

“Not sure,” he sighed, laying his head on his paws.

“Get off this bed,” I demanded.

“Can’t, have to stay close,” he growled.

I cried out, hitting a soft pad of fur near his shoulder. “Please!”

His monstrous head snapped up. “I am not the king,” he snarled. “I will bite that hand off if you hit me again.”

I pulled it back to my chest, turning on my side to get away from him.

“Your king hates me.”

“Yes, but he doesn’t kill or hurt without reason,” the beast replied sleepily.

I laughed. “He killed that man in the ballroom. He beat me until I lost consciousness. He chased me down the halls, determined to end me.”

Olen yawned and laid his head on his paw again. “The man was atraitor.Youkeep trying tokill him. And he chased you because you attacked him. From my understanding, the poor man was only trying to bathe.”

I huffed out an annoyed breath, twisting myself to get further from the beast. The blankets tugged with the weight of him.

“Did you have to lay beside me?” I groaned.

“This bed is more comfortable than the hearth.”

“Why are you in your beast form?” I asked.

His head moved up again and his black eyes studied me. His large mouth opened with a yawn and he laid his head down again.

“It’s more comfortable to sleep as a beast, princess.”

“I don’t believe that.”

The bed shook along with his body while that same unsettling laugh sounded from within him. “You’d never know.”

His breathing turned heavy, and I observed my temporary room of safety. It was simple, one window overlooking Ulrich’s city, that I suddenly realized I’d never learned the name of. In one corner was a bathing room door, and in the other, a modest hearth warming the space.

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