Marked (The Coldest Fae Book 3) by Katerina Martinez (novel24 .txt) 📗

“Just because you can shapeshift doesn’t mean you have to become them.”

Someone walked by the front of the tent, their shadow breaking the light coming in from outside for just a moment. I thought Lora had returned, and for a moment my dinner surged back into my throat, but the shadow quickly moved away again.

I turned to look at the Prince. “I’m not going to become them,” I said, “But they want to train me, they want to know I’m the real White Wolf. If I don’t make it through their trials, they’re going to kill all of us.”

“They won’t kill the heir to Windhelm.”

“That’s just it. They don’t know who you are. I don’t know how they didn’t recognize you, but I also didn’t tell them you’re the Prince, so you need to drop that. From now on, your name is… Colin.”

He cocked an eyebrow. “Colin?”

“Yes.”

“Why Colin?”

“Look, it’s a perfectly good name, okay? It is where I come from, anyway. The point is, you can’t reveal yourself to them, or it could cause a whole series of complications. They have a huge grudge against your people, and if they find out who you are, who knows what they’ll do?”

“All the more reason for us to leave. Now. If we start heading for the Veridian, we may reach it before long.”

I shook my head. “It’s too dangerous, and you’re hurt.” I paused. “Why do you want to go there, anyway? I knew that was where you were going, but I still don’t know why.”

“There was a moment, the first night he made himself known, where I could sense the storm in him. I don’t know how he was able to… how he even exists, but I know it happened there. I feel the call to go to that place more strongly than ever, now, and I’m running out of time. The longer I wait, the stronger he gets.”

“We can’t leave. They’ll kill us.”

“Then we have to find a way. If they want you to pass their tests then there will be moments you cannot spend by my side. When that happens… I cannot allow Radulf to take control again.”

I glanced at the tent’s opening. Another shadow had passed nearby, only this time, it wasn’t moving on. She was back. I stood up right and walked over to the flap. When I pulled it open, I found Lora outside, waiting for me.

“It is time to leave,” she said, “I will take you to your tent.”

I cast an eye to the Prince. “I want to stay here tonight,” I said, “Maybe I can have a bed brought here?”

“No. You will sleep in our tent.”

I frowned. “Our tent?”

“I am to keep an eye on you, to make sure you don’t do anything… stupid.”

“What about my friends?”

“They are guests. They are being taken care of, and they will not be harmed.”

“How can I possibly know that?”

“You cannot. You can only trust us… if you choose to. But that isn’t my concern.” She arched her head a little to look over my shoulder, then let her eyes settle on me again. “Time to go.”

Frowning, I dashed back into the tent, grabbed Cililan’s face, and kissed him again. As I kissed him, I shrugged out of the woolen shirt I had been given and placed it in his hands. That left me topless, and I wasn’t wearing a bra, so I covered my chest with my hands before pulling away from him.

“What… is this?” he asked, his eyes lingering on my stomach, and climbing up to my hands.

I cocked an eyebrow. “To keep you warm tonight,” I said, offering a slight wink before hopping out of the tent.

“You removed your top,” Lora said, and for the first time, I wasn’t sure what to make of her expression. Confusion seemed appropriate.

“I did,” I said, “Is there a problem?”

She paused, eyed me up and down, then she leaned in to whisper. “I also sleep in the nude. We will be friends.”

I went to raise a finger, but then I realized that doing so would expose me to half the camp. “Wait, I don’t—” Lora had already started moving. Groaning, I followed her, breaking into a light jog just to catch up with her.

She really did power-walk everywhere.

Eyes followed me as I made my half-naked walk through the camp. In hindsight, my decision to give the Prince the one of the only bits of clothing I was wearing was probably a bad idea, but it smelled like me. If that could help him get through the night without Radulf coming out again, then what was a little public embarrassment?

Plus, if holding onto my shirt meant he would spend the night thinking about what had been underneath it… urgh, get your mind out of the gutter.

On my way to my new tent, I caught a glimpse of Mira and Melina. They were both sharing a tent not far from wherever Lora was taking me. It was good to see them both alive and well. It looked like Mira’s leg had been healed, too. I nodded at them, and they both nodded in return, letting me know they were okay.

By the time I turned and headed into my tent, Lora had already slipped out of her clothes. I caught a full profile of her backside as she slid into her bed. My cheeks flushed hard. There weren’t any other clothes in here for me to wear, and she wasn’t going to get back up to go find me some new ones. I was going to have to sleep topless.

Sighing, I slid into my own bed, which—while handmade—was full, and plush, and strangely comfortable. I was exhausted. Sleep happened quickly, and I surrendered to it without a fight, hoping not to dream.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

The next morning happened all at once. Get up, get dressed, and get out of the tent. I’d barely had a moment to think, to register what was happening. For