Page 12 of Savage Prince

I also know that I’m back in this body because I’m a phoenix, the only shifter with the power to fly and flame and rise again.

And I know the wolf trotting toward me from the shoreline, his silver gaze locked on me like I’m the answer to every question, is mine.

He belongs to me and me to him and both of us to each other.

I don’t who he is or how we met. I can’t recall a single memory shared, but the moment I lay eyes on him, love swells in my chest until it’s so big I can’t hold it inside of me.

It escapes with a sob, flying through the air toward him as I open my arms, calling him to me. He rushes across the sand, nearly knocking me over as his solid, furred body collides with mine. But the touch of his paw on my shoulder and the rough brush of his tongue against my cheek is gentle and sweet.

“Bet that doesn’t taste too good.” I dig my fingers into his scruff, laughing as he continues to clean me with a soft growl that seems to say “Shut up, woman, and let me tidy you up.”

“I’ll get in the water in a second.” I wrap my arms around his strong neck and rest my cheek on his shoulder, love washing from my core in waves, so grateful to be with him that I don’t care who he is. I just know he’s good and kind and I couldn’t wish for a better being with which to share my first sunrise. “I need to hold you for a minute.” I nuzzle my nose deeper into his fur. “And smell you. You smell so good. Like home.”

His ribs vibrate with another soft growl, and I hear a faint voice in my head, speaking as if from a great distance,You remember. I thought you’d forget. I wasn’t even sure you’d come back. Fuck, I was so scared, Juliet. So fucking scared. I’m so glad you’re back. So glad and so grateful.

I pull back, peering into the wolf’s eyes, the euphoria pumping through me fading a bit as I realize this wolf isn’t just a wolf. I don’t love him any less for it, but my gut knows a human element can make love tricky. It’s so easy to love an animal. A wolf’s love is pure and endless. A shifter’s love is more complicated.

And potentially dangerous…

A soft tremor vibrates through the marrow of my bones, a knowing that’s more than a memory. It’s instinct, my own animal magic telling me I’m not safe and neither is my new (old?) friend.

I look up, scanning the pale gray sky. Only a single seagull circles overhead and the sun has yet to rise, but I feel like I’m being watched.

I turn back to my wolf, brushing a hand over his massive head, hoping my touch brings him comfort as I say, “I’m sorry. I don’t remember. I don’t know who I am or who you are, but I know you were important to me. And I believe I can trust you.”

He whimpers, a sharp, pained sound I understand is born of grief, not any urge to contradict me.

“I’m sorry,” I say, still running my hands over his fur, promising him with my touch that everything is going to be okay. “But it’s not that bad, I promise. I feel good. I’m hopeful and so happy to see you. When you ran up from the beach, I was so glad. I just knew there wasn’t anyone else I’d rather be with on my first morning.”

He drops his head, nuzzling it against my shoulder with a mixture of relief and pain that makes me wish I had the entire day to reassure him. But the unsettled feeling is getting more intense with every passing moment, and I sense we don’t have much time left alone.

I grip his scruff, urging him back far enough for us to lock eyes. “But we’re going to have to catch up later. We’re in danger. Someone is coming. For us. I don’t know who or how close they are, but I’d bet both my hands they don’t wish us well. We should run, hide.”

The fur lifts on the wolf’s neck and shoulders. Again, I hear a faint voice in my head whisper,It’s him. He’s here. I can smell him.

“Him?” I ask, my brow furrowing.

Your father,he says,the one who wants you dead.

SEVEN

ford

Hammer’s here.

At Lost Moon.

I can’t imagine a single scenario in which that’s good news for me or Juliet. Which means grief and explanations will have to wait until we get the fuck off this island. If we stay here, we’re sitting ducks.

I back out of Juliet’s arms and nod toward the shore.We’ll have to swim for it. Are you strong enough?

She stands, rising to her feet with an easy flex of her strong thighs. “I am. But I think it might be better if I fly. I’m pretty sure I’m faster in the air than I am in the water.”

The memory of her flaming feathers in the moments before she went full burn makes my stomach flip, but I push the anxiety away. She’s proven that she can rise from the ashes, and she’s already lost all the memories that made her the Juliet I once knew.

At this point, just five minutes into her new life, she doesn’t have much to lose.

Good,I say, trotting toward the water.Fly at least ten or twenty miles, pick a town where you feel safe, and stay out of sight. I’ll follow and hopefully reach you by sundown tonight. But if I’m not there by tomorrow morning, keep moving and make contact with Layla, a freshman bear shifter at Lost Moon University. Tell her you’re Juliet Zion and that you need her help remembering who you are. She’s a friend and will be able to fill you in.

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