Page 83 of Wolf Bitten

On it.Lucy yawned.I’ll change and meet with Sky and her parents at the center.

Hurry. Raffe headed to the door, leaving it open for the three of us.

Within minutes, we were walking across campus toward the student center. It was a rare sunny day, but a faint chill hung in the air that wouldn’t leave until summer.

I listened, impressed, as Raffe talked to my parents, telling them about the campus and informing them of small details I hadn’t known.

I could see him using his political science degree. Normally, he was stoic and unapproachable, but with my parents, he was the opposite. He smiled and was open, yet he still seemed unaware and unaffected by the other students who passed by and stared at him, giving him that mysterious edge I adored.

When we reached the student center, Raffe pecked me on the forehead, not giving too much of a public display of affection. Then he sauntered off toward the football stadium, and I had to force myself not to watch him leave.

The three of us headed into the student center, which was loud and brimming with people, and for once, I enjoyed getting lost in the chaos. We snagged something to eat and sat down, and my parents told me what was going on with them, though I could tell they wanted to ask more questions about Raffe.

I kept the focus on them. After all, we had to be safe around this many people.

After we’d eatenand toured the bookstore, Lucy met us outside on our way to the stadium.

“Do you volunteer at the animal shelter with Sky?” Mom asked, glancing at Lucy.

She shook her head. “No. I don’t volunteer or work. My entire focus is on schoolwork and watchingCriminal Mindswith Sky when I can steal her away from my cousin.”

“Raffe is your cousin?” Dad tilted his head and glanced at me. “Is that how you met Raffe?”

I laughed. “Nope. I met them separately. I ran into Raffe the night I got here, and I have two classes with him.” Running into him was putting it mildly. I’d slammed into him. And now, thinking back, I wondered who had been watching me that night. There was no telling, and I couldn’t help but shiver. “I didn’t know they were related until weeks later when I came home to find him in the living room.”

They continued to pepper us with questions, and soon, we were walking through the main stadium entrance, where everyone was being pushed together.

Suddenly, something grabbed me from behind, and a scream lodged in my throat.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

My breath caught as the overly musky scent hit my nose and the power soaked into my bones. Before even turning around, I knew who it was.

King Jovian.

My heart clenched, and I regretted asking my parents to come here. I didn’t want them on King Jovian’s radar if he was the one trying to kill me.

“Skylar,” King Jovian said, voice deep and low.

I turned toward him, knowing there was no point fighting the inevitable, but I linked with Raffe,I don’t need you to do anything, but your father is here. When I faced the king, I noted that both Queen Tashya and Aldric were with him.

My lungs seized.

As soon as I glanced at Aldric, he averted his gaze. That was odd, and I wondered if he felt guilty. My blood activated to a low fizz.

“Ki—” I stopped myself before I finished his formal title. That would be strange, given that we had no kings in the United States. I swallowed as the king’s eyes turned icy.

What magic did you use to make the bond seem complete?King Jovian linked, his hands tightening on my arm.

I’ll take care of this,Raffe replied just as Lucy exclaimed, “Uncle Jovian!” She hugged him tightly, and the king’s eyes widened as he released me.

Lucy looped her arm through his and smiled at the queen, pulling the king a few steps farther away from me as she exclaimed, “What a lovely surprise!”

King Jovian resisted, a frown set hard on his face, and his eyes glowed.

I waited for his voice to pop back into my mind, and when it didn’t, I figured he was communicating with Raffe. Part of me wished I could hear the conversation, but the other part was thankful that I couldn’t. If his dad had tried to have me killed, I’d rather live in blissful ignorance … or as close as I could withoutactually dying.

“Skylar,” Queen Tashya said kindly as she strolled over to me. Her gray eyes were warm, and her dirty-blonde hair was pulled back into a loose braid, giving her face the essence of youth. “It’s so nice to see you again.” The corners of her mouth tipped upward.And I see you’ve given us yet another surprise.She tilted her head, emphasizing her curiosity.

---