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THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 54
It is with regret and concern that I leave Arina in Reeina's care and ask the guards to take me to her Wolf King, but I reassure myself that I will be brief.I like Reeina, of course, although after recent events I find it difficult to trust any wolf.The guards take me to the throne room, where Michael is meeting with his Council and some members of the other Great Houses.They say I can't come in and that I must wait in the hallway, so one of them comes in to announce me.I wait for at least half an hour standing there, pacing back and forth, my mind filled with anger and resentment, until the door opens and Miguel comes out.He's wearing the heavy crown of fangs over his braided hair, the stiff dark clothes making him appear taller, almost swallowing me like a shadow.I have a strange, warm feeling in my chest seeing him after the last few days, and I convince myself that it's just gratitude, and that I couldn't thank him for rescuing my Sister, but I push it to the back of my mind
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 55
Arina wakes up on the sixth day.She's still pale and haggard, and the first sign I get that she's awake is a startled scream. It's night and it's late, but like every day before, I lay down next to her on the spacious bed, so I wake up quickly.I, Reeina and the mekrai, were feeding her with teas and broths while she was unconscious, and I think that's why she resisted and will resist. She will just need some time to fully recover.There's a lit candle next to me, resting on a stand, and I bring it to the bed to light up the darkness a little.Arina looks at me.Her hair is soft and clean again and hangs down from her shoulders to her hips in soft waves. A silly detail I thought about; that she would be happy when she woke up and her hair was like before, like when we lived on Goddess Island.— Kim? — he almost stutters, blinking many times as if he can't believe I'm right here.I notice her next move before she makes it, but I'm petrified and can't stop her.Arina tries to use both
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 56
— They're the oldest fen — Reeina tells me as we walk back together to the room I share with Arina.Knowing that the fen and guards don't want us here really hits me harder than I imagined, but I console myself with the idea that I feel this way because it's actually not pleasant for anyone to know they're not wanted around. Only that.—They were here when His Superior Majesty, the Wolf King Erebus, took the continent. The war still haunts them. Many fen had to fight alongside the army, and most ended up dying. They resent each other.— It was your people who came and dominated the continent with war, Reeina. I dare say they have no right to resent us.She squints her eyes and lips.I know I was rude.I'm talking about your people. She loves them.— Reeina-...— You're right, Lyn — he says with an unhappy sigh. — We brought the war, but this was our home too. It was here that Arden united his spirit with the human prince. The king of men cast us out. There were few of us, divided into
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 57
- What do you think you are doing? — he thunders so loudly that my head throbs.I open my mouth, but I don't know what to say.I don't even know what happened.Miguel is waist-deep in the pool, fully clothed, and a cold breeze reminds me that I'm naked to the ribs.I cover myself with my hands.- What are you doing?! — I scream, then I step back and dive into the water murky with oils and perfumes, so he can't see my body.— I came in... and saw her... — points down. — She was totally submerged!- And then?We are shouting very loudly at each other.The young people in the larger pool begin to collect their things, whispering among themselves.The auri fen who tend the pools approach Mig. His eyes are on the ground when they speak to him, and the wolf responds more gently, even if his tone is still upset, asking them to wait a little.Only then do I understand; He came in and saw me submerged.Submerged as if trying to...?I swallow hard.Miguel retreats, leaving the water through the
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 58
I see your hand tighten on the towel knot.— Am I attractive to you, Kim?The question hits me hard in the chest. I feel the impact on my legs. I think it would be a great idea to sit down before I fall, but if I sit down then it will be harder to leave.I clear my throat.I can't answer that directly. It would be too embarrassing.— I think your queen-...— I want to know about you — Miguel cuts me off. — Tell me, Kim. I see how you look at my body. Is it curiosity, as you have no experience with males, or is it something else?He waits.I feel my chest rising and falling with my breathing too fast and I try to calm down.I don't need to answer that.I dont need.— It's curiosity — I blurt out before I can stop myself.Miguel remains silent for a long, long time.I can't read your expression.He seems angry and at the same time...— Let me satisfy you — he asks hoarsely.— W-What?— Your curiosity. Let me satisfy you — she proposes.I would never do that, I think as my body obeys, an
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 59
In the following days, when I go out to take a shower, I notice that the guards at the doors of our room are different. I don't know why I notice that. I don't usually notice, but for some reason I notice that they are not the same young wolves as always, but others, older, with beards and angry expressions beneath their dark wooden masks.That's the first sign.The second is the smell and the heat, and it takes me a while to recognize both.The Tarus fortress is not very cold, or I adapted quickly to its temperature. However, on those days it suddenly feels almost scalding hot.The dress sticks to my skin because of the sweat. The smell in the air is sweet and citrusy, and when I remember where I know him I feel a chill: it's the smell of that aphrodisiac flower that is in the dassbat. Why is your smell everywhere?- What's? — Arina asks, perhaps noticing my troubled expression.I start to question her about smelling the smell and the heat when the Iberiis order us to go back into th
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 60
I can even see little ice pebbles in the water as we bathe.Arina is clearly more relaxed in the cold water, and so am I.The restlessness is gone.I feel good again.This is what I notice in the cannis females that surround us.There are at least five dozen of them here with us in the bathing rooms. Reeina said that they occupy the most diverse positions in the fortress. They are scholars, auri fens, engineers, tzauris. They talk to each other, and I notice that they try to stay submerged with as much of their body as they can, for as long as possible.The feeling of being among so many women takes me back to my times on the Island of the Goddess, with my Sisters.I think Arina thinks the same when I see her looking around.An intense feminine energy flows around us. It's calm, familiar. There is no auri fen serving anyone today. They are in the water too. In the corner, near the door, there is a large table with refreshing food and drinks, and everyone can go there and serve themsel
THE ROYALTY OF WOLFES 61
I sleep too much, and when I wake up I'm alone in the bed I share with Arina.My first thought is toward fear.Where is she? Where is she?But I feel calmer when I see Reeina sitting on the floor, sewing among a hundred strips of fabric, distracted.Fen would never have been so calm if something had happened to Arina.The two developed a loyal friendship that sometimes makes me jealous.Reeina looks up from her seams as soon as she sees me sit on the bed.— Oh, Lyn Kim. I'm glad you woke up. Would you like to have your meal now?I can't help but notice that she looks much better compared to the previous days.— No, Reeina. I am fine. Where is Arina?— Lyn Arina asked me to take her to the cold baths as soon as she woke up. She didn't want to disturb her sleep. You can join her if-… A loud knock on the door startles us both.We look at each other for a second before Reeina stands and leaves her seam to go open.I'm still in bed when I get this almost disturbing feeling in my legs, even
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