Page 21 of The Unwanted Mate of the Lycan Kings
I stare at it.Her gaze follows mine when I notice the faint rune burned into her flesh just above the undergarment.She quickly closes her top and clears her throat.I avert my gaze as she steps out of the shower.
“Well, now we have had a thorough tour of the shower and its pressure system...”She looks at Hunter.“Think you can handle it?”she asks with a snicker, swiping her hair behind her ear.I am nearly tempted to ask her about the runes burned into her chest, remembering what Malachi said about witches.I can tell she isn’t one, but she clearly knew a witch at some point.Either that or she hasn’t practiced in a long time, which might explain her aura if she was a light worker or earth witch.
“Definitely not,” I tell her.She sighs, moving to show me again.Honestly, if I were in her shoes, I would have told me to figure it out myself.
“Just on and off would be good.I don’t care about the temperature.The rivers are cold, so the fancy mumbo jumbo we can skip.”I give her an awkward smile.
“On, off.”She points to a red and green button, and I nod.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to show you again?The water is quite cool.Not that we really need a shower now, anyway.I’m pretty sure every inch of me has been thoroughly blasted and burned,” she chuckles.I let out a breath.At least she doesn’t hate me for my blunder.
I shake my head, already feeling awkward enough.When she moves to walk out, another thought occurs to me.“Ah, Shelley?”I ask, and she stops at the door.
“Yes, miss.”
“Please don’t call me that.Zirah is fine.I came from a cave, remember?Titles mean nothing to me.Besides, I just showered with you.I am pretty sure we are past first base now.”I laugh, and she smiles.
“Considering your caveman upbringing, Zirah, you seem to be up with the times and modern-day language.”
“I enjoy reading.My granny used to bring books home she would scavenge.Unfortunately, she brought no shower manuals home, but I assure you, I can work a toilet as long as it isn’t controlled with, whatever that thing is.”I tell her, pointing at the screen she tried to teach me to use.
“Thank God, I don’t fancy being flushed down the toilet, Miss,” and as she smiles, I raise an eyebrow at the term miss.
“Right, raised in a cave.Sorry, mi...Zirah it is then.”I nod, and she waits for my question while I tug at my wet dress.
“You said you had to retrieve some clothes for me?”
She nods.“Yes, but we haven’t got anything other than maid uniforms here.So I will head into town to grab you some dresses.”
“No dresses,” I tell her.
“It is customary for princesses to wear purple or blue, Zirah.The king won’t be happy if I allow you to wear a maid uniform, not with what he has in store for you.”
“You know he is marrying me off to one of the kings?”
“Yes, though one was supposed to win the trials, but since no one did, I think his plans have changed.”
I sigh, the reality truly settling in.“Why?”I ask.I have so many questions because none of this makes sense to me.Why would a lycan want to be married off to a human?
“I am not at liberty to say.The king will tell you if he wishes for you to know his reasons, but I must head into town if I want to be back before dark.The streets are not safe at night.”
“No dresses, and not the royal colors or whatever you just said.It needs to have long sleeves too.”I tell her.
“Zirah, the weather here is strange.You’ll roast.The nights may be freezing, but the days have been long and hot.”
I tug the soaking wet dress off over my head, and it plops on the ground with a wet thud.Her lips part, and she quickly glances over her shoulder as if she is worried one of the kings will burst in and drag me to be burned at the stake.She turns quickly, slamming the door shut.
Chapter 14
“I guess you understand my predicament as to why Ineed sleeves?”She nods, her eyes wide as she takes in the runes covering my arms.Her lips tug up in the corners, and she lets out a breath.“On your chest?”
“Nobody knows, only the late queen.Your secret is safe with me.”
“As yours is with me.Malachi said the kings hate witches.Somehow, I think your dresses will get me killed long before I can escape here.”
“You want to run?You’ll do it?”
“Well, I am certainly not marrying one of them.”Her brows furrow, and she slowly nods as her eyes dart to Hunter at my feet.
