Chapter 6

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..

…but I have to get clean.

And quite suddenly I remember what Jesse said on the way in that there are some hot

springs over the far hill. I breathe out a little moan, instantly wanting nothing more than a long, hot bath

all by myself. To get clean, and to refresh myself – I just know it’s the one thing that will set me right..

After about five minutes of searching for the hot springs, I find them.

They’re everything I hoped they would be. Clean, fresh water – smelling just slightly of sulfur – bubbles

out through a set of rocks, creating a little steaming pool that’s just deep enough to sink into. With a

quick 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 hair as I wade into the pool, moaning a little at the luxurious warmth

of it enveloping my exhausted and battered body.

When that’s finished, I tie my hair back in a knot at 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 soap all over my skin, pampering myself a little as my muscles unwind, my

mind turns to the question of battle magic, and just how the Academy might teach something like that.

Because Rafe and Jesse 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 the

weather, but the three of us?

Not so much as a spark, no matter what we’ve tried. Mom tells us not to worry about it, that the

Goddess will reveal her gift in time…

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

would my magic take?

My imagination spins as I consider the possibilities 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.

Of course, the feeling is short lived because just as I set the soap aside and splash a handful of water

up against my face, a voice rings out behind me.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

And I gasp, spinning and instinctually dipping low into the pool so that I’m up to my chin in the opaque

water, staring up at the dark figure standing at the edge of the pool. I push

myself away from him through the water, terrified but unable to see who it is –

But as I reach the far side of the pool, terror streaking through me, the cloud covering the moon skates

away revealing…

Another candidate

–

and not my brother or cousin.

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

staring down at me –

“Seriously, Shrimp,” he says, crouching down and looking all around. “What are you even doing here?

And did you see a girl running around? I’m looking for her.”

My mouth drops open a little as I realize that…that in the dark he can’t see my long hair knotted at the

back of my neck, or any details about my body underneath the water.

And, simultaneously, I realize that 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 me up –

My mind whirs, but luckily my mouth responds without me. “Um,” I say, pitching my voice a little lower.

“No, I haven’t seen anyone.”

“Shit luck,” the boxer says, standing and sighing as he shoves his hands in his pockets. “I’ve been

getting bits and pieces of her scent all day…she’s got to be around, but I can’t figure out where…”

“Why…” I say again, hesitating and rubbing at my nose, desperate now to be able to smell something –

“why are you looking for her?”

“Cause,” he says, sighing in frustration. “She’s my mate.”

“Impossible,” a growling voice snaps, making both of us jump and spin towards the hulking figure that

comes out of the shadows next. And my eyes go wide when I realize that…

That it’s the huge, scarred brute that Rafe beat in the last bout disappointment in his bunk

–

who hung his head in

“Pardon?” The boxer says, raising an eyebrow at the bigger candidate who comes close to glower over

him. To his credit, Luca doesn’t flinch.

“She can’t be your mate,” the brute snarls, glaring down at Luca and not even sparing me a second

glance. “Because she’s mine.”

Yes! Yes! Yes! My wolf yelps within me, spinning in eager circles, holding her tail high like a banner.

Our mates! Both of them!

But my reaction is the opposite.

“Ohhhh no,” I whisper, shaking my head as I look between them.

Two mates both looking for me?

–

And neither of them realizing that I’m treading water right here!?

How the hell am I going to get out of this?