Total pages in book: 241
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 229266 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 1146(@200wpm)___ 917(@250wpm)___ 764(@300wpm)
“Yes.” His features sharpened as he carefully peeled back the edge of my sweater. “The wounds will heal as soon as I pull the arrows out.”
“Then why haven’t you done that yet?”
“Because they will not fester, unlike your wound if dirt gets into it.” His gaze flicked up, and his eyes snagged my focus. The pupils seemed larger. “Are you worried about me, Princess?”
I clamped my mouth shut.
“You are, aren’t you? I heard you scream my name when I fell from the horse,” he continued, and it was weird for him to tease after riding in silence for hours—and with three arrows sticking out of him. “Your concern warms the same heart you’ve so grievously wounded.”
I shot him a glare. “You’re no good to me dead.”
One side of his lips quirked up as he stared at my arm. “Looks like a flesh wound. You’ll live.”
“I told you I was fine.”
“Still needs to be covered.” He rose, bringing me with him. Stepping back, he tore off a piece of his cloak. “Not the most hygienic of options, but it will work until we reach Spessa’s End.”
The crunch of needles drew my gaze. I saw Delano slinking between the pines, still in his wolven form. Streaks of red stained his fur. His pale-eyed gaze moved from Casteel to me, and then he took off in a powerful lunge, darting between the trees.
“Where is he going?”
“Probably to retrieve the horses,” Casteel answered.
I glanced up at him. He stood beside me, holding my arm in one hand and the cloth in the other, but he made no move to cover the seeping wound. He was just standing there, the hollows of his cheeks shadowed.
The throbbing in my arm fell to the wayside as concern did take root. “Are you sure you’re all right?” I asked. “Maybe you should pull those arrows out or something.”
His throat worked on a swallow, and his lips parted. There was the barest hint of fangs.
“Casteel,” Kieran called out from behind us.
The Prince blinked, lifting his head to look over my shoulder. His pupils seemed even bigger, crowding out the amber of his irises. Instinct sent a shiver of warning through me. “I’m fine.”
“You sure about that?” Kieran asked.
I watched Casteel closely, wondering what was wrong with him. “Your eyes,” I whispered. “The pupils are really large.”
“They do that sometimes.” He cleared his throat, finally moving as he repeated louder, “I’m fine.” He wrapped the strip of cloak around my upper arm. “This may hurt.”
It didn’t feel all that great as he tightened the makeshift bandage, tying it so it stayed in place. Once done, he lowered my arm and draped the cloak over it. I watched him step back and look down at himself, still…well, still concerned for him. “Thank you.”
His gaze flew to mine, and there seemed to be a bit of surprise in those odd eyes. He nodded and then looked at Kieran. “Are there any left?”
“Those alive ran back to whatever homes they’d fashioned for themselves,” Kieran stated. “Naill is scouting up ahead to make sure we don’t run into any more.”
Wanting to know how these people knew what Kieran and Casteel were, I twisted at the waist—
Every single thought fled. My mouth dropped open. “You’re naked!”
“I am,” Kieran replied.
And he was.
Like completely naked, and I saw way too much tawny-hued skin. Way too much. I quickly spun around, my wide eyes clashing with Casteel’s.
“You should see your face right now.” Casteel gripped the arrow in his stomach. “It looks like you’ve been sunbathing.”
“Because he’s naked,” I hissed. “Like, super naked.”
“What do you think happens when he shifts forms?”
“The last time his pants actually stayed on!”
“And sometimes they don’t.” Casteel shrugged.
“Those pants were looser, I suppose,” Kieran stated. “There’s no need to be embarrassed. It’s only skin.”
What I saw was not only skin. He was…well, his body was a lot like Casteel’s. Lean, hard muscle and…
I wasn’t going to think about what I saw.
At a loss for what to say, I blurted out in a whisper, “He has to be cold!”
“Wolven body temperatures run higher than normal. I’m just a little chilled,” Kieran commented. “As I’m sure you noticed.”
Casteel smirked. “I doubt she knows what you’re referencing.”
I inhaled deeply through my nose and exhaled slowly. “I know exactly what he’s referencing, thank you very much.”
“How do you know that?” Casteel lifted his brows, and I noticed that his pupils seemed to have returned to their normal size. “If you know what that means, then someone has been very naughty.”
“I know that because—” I sucked in air as he yanked the arrow free. “Oh, my gods.”
“It looks worse than it is.” He tossed the arrow aside and then reached for the one in his left shoulder.
I started to turn away but remembered that what was behind me was far more traumatizing. “I hope you have an extra set of clothes,” I said to Kieran.