Page 12 of Of Wolves and Wives

Concern for her wars with my rage at the prince and what he’s done to her. More than ever, I’m determined to see him brought to his knees. To see him dragged from his throne. His cruelty has been left unchecked for far too long.

“Are you okay?” I ask, hating myself the moment the words slip from my lips.

Of course, she’s not okay, you fool.

She seems taken aback by the question as she nods, but then she stops to look up at me, her brow furrowed.

“No,” she admits after a moment of hesitation. “I’m not okay, Pierce.”

The words cut straight through me, bleeding me faster than any blade ever could.

“What can I do?”

“I’m so tired. I never asked for any of this. All I want is to curl up and sleep … to be given a chance to breathe.”

Her arm trembles against mine as I nod in understanding.

“Come, I’ll take you back to your room at once.”

“No,” she says, stopping me even as I move to turn us back toward the castle.

“No?”

“I would rest here first. I doubt they’ll let me sleep if I don’t get myfresh air, first.”

Her smile is shaky as she says this, and it takes me a second to realize she’s trying to make a joke. I give her a half-grin in return, though worry is all I really feel as I gently remove her arm from mine.

Slipping my arm around her waist, I pull her to me, taking as much weight as I can in the hopes of lessening her burden.

A small sigh of relief escapes her throat at this, nearly undoing me. The sweet scent of her wrapping around me as we make our way through the overrun garden.

“I can carry you, if you’d like,” I offer when I notice her pace slowing, each step seeming to cost her more than she’s able to give.

“No, thank you.”

Unsure of what to do, my eyes scan the garden as we walk, finally spotting a simple wooden bench tucked behind a large oak and nearly overgrown with vines.

Gently, I guide us toward it.

I know she’s likely to refuse the offer to rest, but I have to try. As we near the bench, I can’t help but notice that we’re hidden from view of the palace.

She’ll be able to rest without fear of being seen, if I can convince her.

“Here,” I say, drawing her attention to the bench. “Rest a moment.”

“Pierce—”

“You won’t be seen, I promise.”

She watches me for a moment before nodding once, and I quickly move to help her down onto the bench as another sigh of relief escapes her.

“Do you mind if I join you?”

She shakes her head, and I settle onto the bench next to her. Almost instantly, she shifts to lean her head against me, and my body tenses beneath her.

In the back of my mind, I’m fully aware that I shouldn’t be this close to her. That should the prince or any of his loyal spies come across us, I’d be severely punished for this.

But I can’t bring myself to put space between us.

---