Page 95 of Wolf Caged
He was avoiding me.
Embarrassment crept up on me, slipping past my rigid defences, and I barely leashed the desire to bury my head in my hands and hide. Instead of running back to my room with my tail tucked between my legs, I forced myself to walk to my second favourite spot in the garden—a beautiful white wooden circular gazebo that had blood red vines growing up the ornately carved posts, their white blossoms hanging like grapes across the arches.
It had a seat beneath it that faced the edge of the garden and the stunning view of the sea and the mountains, and from it I could watch the boats coming and going from the shelteredharbour of the town below. That would occupy my mind for a while, might even shift my thoughts away from Kaeleron.
Only when I reached it, a male was sitting there.
Chapter 23
SAPHIRA
Ibacked away a step, intending to leave before the male noticed me, but he stood and pivoted to face me in one fluid motion, his silver eyes clashing with mine.
Silver eyes that were familiar and foreign at the same time.
The stranger bowed gracefully, bending at the waist as his right arm came across his stomach and his left extended out at his side with a flourish. He straightened, his wild short black hair kissing his pale forehead as his eyes locked with mine again and a smile curved lips only a shade darker than his skin.
“My lady,” he murmured as a way of greeting, and I frowned at him, studying him closely, watching his every move as something buried deep within me said to keep my distance from him.
This male was dangerous.
He smoothed his fine black tunic, his eyes remaining fixed on mine, and I tried to place him, searching my memories to figure out whether I had met him before. Given his mocking greeting, I suspected he knew of me at least, and maybe that meant he was part of the court but a member I hadn’t run into on any of my walks.
“You may greet me with ‘my prince’.” He rolled his hand in my direction, gesturing for me to follow his instructions.
“A prince?” I continued to frown at him. “No one here has ever mentioned there’s a prince at this court.”
His smile was feline, and it reached his eyes, making them shine as he said, “I am not of this court. Merely a visitor. Perhaps considered a friend by some.”
“By the king?” Kaeleron was the only one I could imagine as this male’s friend. They both walked a fine line between light and terrifying darkness, and both held a power that was so potent it was a tangible thing around me, snaking and twining around my limbs and crawling over my skin.
“And his sister, and perhaps some others at this court too.” He gestured to the bench between us. “Shall we sit?”
“No thanks.” I remained where I was, keeping a healthy distance between us.
He chuckled again. “So blunt. Are all your breed so forthright? Your kind certainly seem to be gaining a foothold in fae lands. Almost seven centuries on this earth and not once had I seen a wolf in Lucia, and suddenly there are two. First a male, and now a female.”
I stiffened. “A male?”
There was another wolf shifter in Lucia?
My pulse picked up, heart racing as I considered who it might be, and fear washed through my veins as my mind locked onto Lucas. Odd that I instantly leaped to fear, even my wolf side afraid that he might have come to find me, that he might take me from this world before I was ready to leave.
Before I was strong enough to face him.
The fae prince held his hands out before him, the gesture calming, and I realised I had been growling and flexing my fingers, my fangs on show as my lips peeled back off them.
“The wolf I met was a Scottish alpha and had his mate with him. I safely escorted them from the lands of the Nightmare Court.”
Not Lucas then, or anyone I knew.
Nightmare Court?
I shuddered at the name alone, images springing into my mind of what that court would be like. If the one of shadows was dark and frightening enough, I never wanted to see the Nightmare Court.
“Are you from there?” I said, suppressing another shiver and the urge to step back to increase the distance between us.
The male shook his head. “No. I am not from anywhere. Not anymore. I am a wanderer.” He gestured to the seat again, his lips curling in a warm smile that again reached his eyes. “Come. I do not bite. Let us sit a while and conspire. I am sure there are a great many things you wish to know about the ruler of this court. I know many of his secrets.”
