Page 29 of Secrets of Avalon
“Destrien.” The snarl I throw at him leaves nothing to the imagination.
He throws up his hands, dismissing my accusation.
Ares gaze alights on Melinda, his reaction is unmistakable, and a wide grin splits his face, an expression of uncensored attraction and curiosity. “She’s certainly worth all the gossip flying about Camelot,” he declares, his voice not attempting to hide his amusement. He walks across the room with the confidence and self-assurance that befits his status as the Olympian God of War.
Gossip. Fuck.
He kneels in front of her. “By the gods, Milady, you are beautiful.” His voice, smooth and enthralling, drips with genuine awe, yet carries an undercurrent of something darker, more possessive with a tinge of jealousy. He wants what is mine.
He takes her hand into his with a gentleness that calms the angry beast inside me. His lips brush her hand in a kiss and suddenly the rage roars back. “Fascinating. I could’ve sworn you were human.”
My blood runs cold at his words, the implication behind them, and the entire room falls into a hushed, anticipatory silence. His gaze, intense and assessing, strips away all pretenses, seeking the truth beneath the surface.
Tension coils tighter within me, ready for whatever may come next.
He tips his head up, studying her. She’s not human. I already know she’s not. Now, everyone in the room knows she’s not. Which isn’t a bad thing. Humans are forbidden.
But he stares at her a few seconds too long.
I shove my friend aside and step between them. “Mine.”
“Yours?” Wraith speaks from the back of the room. “How did you go from talking to a door this morning to finding a flesh and blood woman that Ares thought was a human?”
I glance quickly at Melinda. Her gaze is jumping from one man to another like a light beam in a room of mirrors. I ignore Wraith’s question and step closer to Melinda. “You’re safe. I give you my word.”
She looks straight at me. “Kellan’s going to be angry.”
I huff out an exasperated laugh. “The dragon is the least of my concerns.”
“There’s a dragon involved with her? So she’s not yours… you’re trying to steal her from a Drakonii.” Ares' voice is on the brink of laughter.
“The lady is dressed in Drakonian finery, Ares. Even you had to have noticed that.” Wraith crosses his arms over his chest and studies me. Waiting for me to explain. Which I’m not going to do. Mostly because I’m not sure what’s going on or who Melinda actually is. I certainly don’t know what she is, even though we’ve clearly established that she’s not human.
I glance over at Fenrir who’s been silent this entire time. “What does the wolf have to say?”
“There’s are children missing. The magick is glitching again and you’re needed in the Hall of Realms. Your mother and father are already on their way. We’re also collecting you for the fucking High Council fealty swearing.” He takes a step closer to me, but trains his gaze on Melinda. “Be careful, little one, there are many worse than wolves in this castle and they rarely show their teeth until it’s too late. Trust no one outside of your dragon and us.”
“What are you, really?” Melinda asks. I look for signs of anxiety or distress, but her face is calm. Her eyes are bright. Breathing is normal.
“A wolf.” Fenrir flashes her a smile. “But not dangerous to you. The ones you should worry about will distract you with finery and will never admit they’re wolves.”
She cocks her head to the side and purses her lips, like she’s trying to decide exactly what he means. “So are you like Kellan?”
Fenrir’s eyes widen. “Kellan of Gilat?” His gaze travels down her arm to the green tattoo snaking around her wrist. Fen turns toward me. “The fuck, Hawke? Is Ares right, are you trying to steal a Drakonii’s ward? And not just any Drakonii, but Kellan of Gilat?”
“I’m not stealing her. She’s… it’s complicated.” I growl. There are too many questions I don’t know the answers to. I hate the feeling of not knowing. Of not being in control. I trust these men. I’ve known them my whole life. But I can’t explain what I think to be true. It doesn’t even make sense to me yet.
“Nobody’s stealing me.” Melinda steps forward toward the group of us bravely. “Are you a shapeshifter like Kellan? Is that what you mean? And what about Ares and him?” She waves a hand at Wraith. “And what about the missing child? Shouldn’t we be going to help?”
“I am Wraith Shadowbear, milady. And yes, you are correct on both accounts, Fen is a shapeshifter, Ares is an Olympian, I am Upir, and we should be going.”
Ares pulls his red cloak from his shoulders and twirls it in the air, settling it over Melinda’s. “You can’t be seen in public, love. Everyone will think you’re human and that’s not a good thing in Avalon.”
“Forbidden,” she whispers.
He nods and ties the cloak at her neck. Then pulls the hood up and over her head, hiding most of her face. “There we go.”
He looks at the others. “Better?”