Grace of a Wolf by Lenaleia

Chapter 218: Grace: A Normal Mentor Would Be Nice

Caeriel’s face is too close, blocking most of my view. But then he steps back with a faint smile. "You’re frightened."

"I’m not," I lie to him again, realizing belatedly he might be able to smell it. Hopefully he can’t.

Either way, our encounters are not going very well.

Was it too much to ask for a normal mentor, and not someone I’m pretty sure is a psychopath? Actually, if I really want to get into it, why is everyone around me so damn weird? My own boyfriend is definitely not normal in his head, either.

Though... less terrible than I thought he was.

Which, I’m pretty sure, is not the case for Captain Grim Reaper over here.

"They’re giving their reports."

"Reports?" I stiffen immediately. "I knew it. They’re not normal animals!"

Vindication floods through my veins, sweet and sharp. See? I knew Sadie was weird. And the cat, too. Yet another situation in which my paranoia wasn’t paranoia, because it isn’t paranoia if it’s true.

Caeriel’s mouth stays curved, but his amusement feels very at my expense. "Of course not. What normal animals would dare to stay by the Lycan King?"

Hah, hah. What might be normal for him isn’t normal for me, thank you very much. I’m still adjusting to this super-supernatural world. Extrasupernatural, I guess. Though the word kind of makes me think of extraterrestrial, and they aren’t aliens.

Are they?

He looks me over, his gaze sliding from my face to my feet and back again. The tiny crease between his eyebrows deepens into a frown that makes my skin crawl.

"Still not answering? Your intellect doesn’t seem very high." His voice drops, becoming softer, almost intimate, even as his words come out cruel. "I can’t fathom what Lyrielle sees in you."

Why’s he suddenly insulting me?

Oh—the question. Right. I got sidetracked with the animals.

own issues,

say giving their

cuts me off with a dismissive flick of his wrist. "It’s exactly

End of story.

in front of me, but he’s too much of a jerk to give

child, answer: Why would the blood of a demi-god be found

small, the hum of the machines too loud. I deflate a little, despite the defiance in my thoughts. Ultimately,

those times I mouthed off to

guess I was never as scared of him as I am of

my head

already told you,

beyond obvious. "Okay, then let’s make the question easier." He over-enunciates each word as if speaking to a toddler.

his tone makes my cheeks burn. Exactly how little respect does he have for me? I’m not stupid—I just don’t have

it does bring up a couple moments with Lyre where she also... no, let’s not go there;

I avoid snapping, but can’t avoid saying it

rise a fraction.

The word comes out tight. I wasn’t questioning the importance of demi-god blood,

not an ounce of sincerity in the gesture as he explains, "I rarely have

my palms, pressing my nails into

to keep my voice steady. "I’m not an idiot. I just don’t have the context for any of this. Demi-gods, divine guardians, magical laundromats—this wasn’t exactly

only highlight the limits of

My molars grind together.

would this

I ask sarcastically, already forgetting how I decided I was too scared to mouth off to him. Amazing how much self-esteem returns

bored as he says, "Is that

it’s found, something bad

consider that your

him not being able to see. "More

less? Be precise, Miss

edge to his voice, and my ears are attuned to it like any rebellious teenager facing someone in authority. "Give or take. One way