Page 206 of Halfblood Deceived

Zeydan hummed. “The theory is that the descendants of Fenrir and Celene exist in two planes of existence simultaneously. And that through magic, we choose what form to assume in the mortal plane. I was wearing these clothes before shifting, so here they remain. Because the shift isn’t something physical like it is letting my vampire side fully take over.” He mulled it for a moment. “It’s like… stepping in and out of a room.” He gave her an apologetic shrug. “I don’t know how to explain it right.”

Aella squeezed his hand. “You’ve explained it just fine. Do werewolves also theoretically exist in two dimensions?”

“According to most clans, yes,” Zeydan confirmed. “But for pure werewolves, the change is physical. They can feel their bones, muscles, and joints shifting. And they rip their clothes to shreds with their change.”

“Aylana is more like you then,” Aella mused.

Aylana had told Aella a bit about how the change felt for her. The werewolf-fey was able to keep her clothes if she focused. And even though the change was partly physical for her, it also felt as if she were two in one. In one place and then the other.

Zeydan nodded. “I believe so, yes. To answer the rest of your questions. No, shifting into my wolf self doesn’t hurt, but the change this humanoid body goes through when I transform into my full vampire self is uncomfortable. I’m stronger in my wolf form, but also more vulnerable because I can’t use my telekinesis while I’m in it.”

They paused their conversation to jump across a small creek. The sky had gone from dark blue to a soft blue-gray as the sun rose.

“I can be the wolf as long as I want,” Zeydan continued. “But if I let days go by, I get a lot hungrier than usual when I shift back into this form. And my family, along with Kamilla and Kerian, know. I suspect Sebastian and Aylana do too because they’ve made some dodgy comments, but they haven’t outright said it yet.”

“I think they know,” Aella confirmed. “Remember that day we ran into them sparring with Diana and you left?” Zeydan nodded. “They looked very amused and suspicious when they told me I smelled like you.”

Zeydan cringed. “Perhaps I should start wearing cologne.”

“Please don’t. I love your scent,” Aella said with the reflexive honesty she couldn’t help in Zeydan’s presence.

His eyes flared with something heated that made Aella’s breathing speed up. He lifted their joined hands and brushed his nose along her inner arm, inhaling deeply, eyes closing.

Aella’s eyes widened.

Zeydan exhaled warmly against her skin. Delicious tingles blossomed in her body.

His pupils were dilated when he met her gaze. “Likewise.”

Aella bit her lip, her heart beating faster. “Is that normal? Shouldn’t I smell wrong to you?”

Zeydan lowered their hands. “Gargoyles usually smell like blood on a hot iron pan. But you don’t.” He examined the curiosity in her eyes, lips tilting up. “You smell like Arabian Jasmine, amber, berries, and licorice. There is a slight metallic undertone, but the combination is… delicious.” His throat bobbed.

Aella took an embarrassingly loud breath. Her pulse was loud in her ears, the blood in her veins rushing and heating as if in silent offer.

Zeydan’s pupils contracted slightly, something like hunger flashing in his intense gaze. He shook his head and cleared his throat.

She should be afraid, but she wasn’t. Her addled brain created some confusing but achingly enticing images of Zeydan’s double canines sinking into her skin. Heat slid from her chest to her abdomen and lower like hot water. Even as the reasonable corner of her brain demanded to know what the Hell she was thinking.

Zeydan licked his lips and blinked, looking away from her. “May I ask my questions now?”

“Yes,” Aella all but sighed.

She had the feeling he could have asked almost anything, and her answer would have been the same.

“Do you feel more comfortable around me when I’m the wolf?” he asked.

Aella had the feeling he already knew the answer. “Yes.”

Zeydan nodded. “Can you tell me why?”

She took a deep breath. “I—it’s hard to put into words.”

He let her go to jump across a massive fallen tree full of moss and mushrooms, then stretched both hands toward her. “Is it hard to put into words, or are you afraid you’ll offend me somehow?”

Aella blinked, holding onto his hands as she climbed over the tree. She slipped slightly on a patch of moss, but Zeydan banded both arms around her and stabilized her with a speed and skill that didn’t let her twist her ankle. His heart pumped against hers. She couldn’t stop looking at him as he carefully set her down on the plush ground. Taking her hand again, he resumed their previous side-by-side position, and they started to walk again.

“A bit of both,” Aella admitted at last, avoiding Zeydan’s eyes and focusing on the play of the early morning light against the tree-tops. “I find it hard to feel comfortable around males, especially if I’m alone. You are the biggest exception.”

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