Page 12 of Jace's Mate
Being alone.
It wasn’t logical, but the fear sat deep in her bones, older than her memories.She didn’t fear shadows or burglars.
In fact, she sometimeswishedfor a break-in, just to see what would happen.
She suspected she’d enjoy the fight.
But solitude?That was unbearable.That was death.
As long as she was part of a group—even this one—she could endure anything.
For now.
Then, in a heartbeat, everything shifted.
A new scent drifted across her path.
Anikka stopped dead in her tracks.Eldin bumped into her with a quiet grunt.
“Sorry!”she gasped, half-spinning to face him, her eyes wide.
But she barely registered him.
Thatsmell—
Tangy.Warm.Spicy.
And something else.
Male.
Deliciously male.
Her breath caught.She inhaled again, slow and deep.
No, it wasn’t Eldin.She knew his scent.This was… different.
This wassomeone else.
Her pupils dilated.Her chest tightened.Her skin prickled with awareness.
Eldin definitely wasn’t sexy.Anikka almost laughed at the idea.
Her so-called bodyguard stood about her height, with unremarkable features: light brown hair, hazel eyes, narrow shoulders, and the soft beginnings of a paunch.He wasn’t unattractive.He was just… ordinary.
Not repulsive.Not exciting.Justmeh.
And judging by the way his eyes kept darting nervously to alleyways and parked cars, she doubted he’d be much good in a fight either.Too jittery.Too hesitant.
As she resumed walking, her eyes scanned the quiet buildings they passed.
Do I look as normal as he does?
“I don’tfeelnormal,” she whispered to no one in particular.
They passed several homeless people huddled in doorways, cradling steaming coffee or cups of soup in paper containers.Their presence tugged at her curiosity.Did they feel normal?Was anyone actually normal?
With a sigh, she walked through the sliding doors of the grocery store.The air inside was cool and clean, filled with the scent of citrus and floor wax.
