Chapter 25
Holding Elva, Nichs winced as he bent his right wrist. He had tried to hide it, and maybe would have
been sessful if I had been anyone other than his ex–girlfriend.
He’d told me the story himself, when we had been dating.
Nichs had excelled for his age. His werewolf abilities were some of the strongest in the entire
kingdom, even when he’d been a child.
Because of this, when a war had broken out in the north between the Werewolf Kingdom and the Bear
People, Nichs had been sent to the front lines. He’d only been 11 at the time.
Though his talent was immense, hecked the years of training that other soldiers had.
He fought hard and well. He felled many foes. But his inexperience too often led him into situations he
might have otherwise known to avoid.
Once, he followed an enemy deep behind their lines, and straight into a trap.
Only with the sacrifices of so many others, was he able to escape, but not without injury.
Over time, most of the wounds had healed. All except for his right wrist.
He’d exined to me that he was often able to suppress the pain. It didn’t always bother him. But when
the cold set in, or it rained or snowed, the pain would re up again.
So many nights I hadid awake after hearing his story, imagining an 11 year old version of the boy I
loved fighting in a shifter war. I had nightmares, imagining his fear, the pain he’d felt from his injuries,
and the guilt he’d suffered every day, knowing others had died to save him.
Now, thoughts of the nightmares returned, with a new, different angle. Nichs, a prince, had been
sent to war, Weren’t princes supposed to be pampered and protected?
Nichs looked at me, and I pulled my gaze away. I couldn’t let on that I knew his injury pained him.
Since he hated me now, he’d hate showing me his weakness.
didn’t want him to hurt himself further by trying to hide it.
We should get back to our room,” I said.
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my some do take Elve from him, but she buried her nose against his cor
That would probably be best.” Elva could be the most stubborn girl in the kingdom, when she put her
mind to it.
As we left the infirmary and made our way back to my room, I tried to smile at Nichs. His kindness
and generosity were not lost on me. It wouldn’t hurt to make nice with him, for Elva’s sake if nothing
else.
“She likes you,” I said.
He gently patted Elva’s back. The girl had fallen asleep in his arms. He seemed pleased with the
words, though he didn’t offer any type of reply.
After a long moment, he said, “She’ll be safe here. I will see to it personally.”
I didn’t know what else to say, other than, “Thank you, Prince Nichs.” I tried another smile. “I’ll try to
teach her how to pronounce your name.”
“Don’t you dare,” he said softly.
That familiar fond feeling flooded through me again. He couldn’t actually like being called Nickss? Or
maybe he did. It was rather cute.
Elva was already getting so big. Soon, she would lose the cute way she said things. I supposed there
was no need to rush it, not if Nichs didn’t mind.
Once we were back in my bedroom, he tucked Elva into her side of therge bed, then left the room
without another word to me, not even a goodnight.
A twinge of disappointment rose inside of me, and resenting it, I buried it quickly.
Nichs meant nothing to me anymore.
The next day, Elva was feeling infinitely better. She bounced around the room with her usual 3 year old
energy, regardless of how many times I tried to get her to sit still and rest.
While sighing from mytest failed attempt, one of the maids brought me an invitation that had been
delivered to the room. I asked.
on for the First Ball, the maid said, holding out the glittering notecard. The whole thing
lion
had been dipped in gold, with the ck pen lettera hand written afterwards,