Chapter 6

I wake up in the middle of the night and groan a little with pain from my stiff muscles and my aching face. I prod at my nose, pleased to find that it’s already much better – the speed of wolf healing really is great, even though my nose is still too swollen to truly smell anything.

But as I sit up, I realize that the real problem here is that I am…grimy.

I’m completely covered in sweat and blood and my body feels…disgusting. I stick out my tongue as I survey myself, not even really able to believe that I was able to fall asleep like this. I mean, how much pain had I even been in?

A lot, my wolf reminds me, nudging me with her nose. Can we go find them now?

I scowl and mentally push her away, not able to think of it – or maybe just not wanting to, not right now. I mean, what the hell does it mean what do I even feel about any of this?

Did I imagine it?

Or did…did two mating bonds actually snap into place yesterday afternoon, the day after I left Prince Asshole at the altar?

But no. That’s impossible. You get one fated mated – just one! And most people don’t even get that!

I don’t even know what one mating bond snapping into place feels like, let alone two. My wolf must be wrong – whatever happened must have just been…I don’t know, some kind of hormonal reaction to being around so many boys all at once.

I’m not wrong! she growls, snapping her teeth at my denial. But I ignore her again.

I quickly move to the wide communal bathroom at the end of the room. I grab a set of supplies from the waiting shelf and dash towards the shower stall. But when I pull back the curtain I gasp – actually gasp – in horror at the site before me. The floor and walls are covered in muck, and boy hair, and oh my god, is that even blood in the corner?

I scowl at myself, hating this side of me that’s decidedly a Princess..

to get

said on the way in that there are some hot

nothing more than a long, hot bath all by myself. To get clean, and to refresh myself –

minutes of searching for the hot springs, I

glance over my shoulder to check that I’m actually alone, I strip off my clothes and fling off my hat, running my fingers through my

the base of my head and I take a deep breath, closing my eyes and turning my face up to again stare at the castle against the sky as I start on my body. As I run the bar of

and I – we’re all supposed to have some kind of magic, a gift from our Grandmother, the Goddess. Mom and Aunt Cora told us each about it when we turned sixteen, but…none of us have manifested anything yet. Mom is an incredible healer, and Aunt Cora can control

spark, no matter what we’ve tried. Mom tells us not to worry about it, that the Goddess will reveal her gift in time…

Academy…would it have a way to bring something like that out in me? And if so… what

as I soap myself down and I smile a little, staring to feel, finally, like myself again. I even hum to myself a little bit, carried away by how good this feels.

just as I set the soap aside and splash a handful of

are you doing here?”

that I’m up to my chin in the opaque water, staring up at the dark figure standing at the

terrified but unable to see who it is

far side of the pool, terror streaking through me, the cloud covering

Another candidate

my brother or cousin.

wide in shock as I realize, quite suddenly, that it’s Luca Grant – all six–foot–two of

“What are you even doing here? And

my long

I smell like all girl right now because in soaping myself down I washed off all of the scent Jesse rubbed on me, which was covering

mouth responds without me. “Um,” I say, pitching my voice a little

pockets. “I’ve been getting bits

to be able to smell something – “why are you looking

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