Each time she rebranded me was a milestone of when my magic manifested more. The stronger I got, the quicker the ruins that masked my power wore off—and the weaker hers got trying to mask mine. This is why she aged so drastically. It wasn’t the elements, it was me. Her magic camouflaged mine, trying to contain it while constantly stealing those memories from me so I wouldn’t be tempted to unleash my power.
With the runes finished and the medicine applied, I lovingly haul the little girl to her cot for rest. It’s such a strange feeling to see yourself through another’s eyes and to feel the love and fear they felt for you.
A sharp inhale and a wave of grief brings me spinning back to my castle bedroom. I can’t help but think about my dreams and the visions of a kingdom that haunted me throughout my life. The dreams were filled with battles, love, and betrayal, pieces of a past life that seemed just out of reach. But now I am faced with the reality that Granny gave everything to protect me, just as she had done so many times before.
The floor beneath me is cold, and I curl into myself, the weight of my grief threatening to crush me. The world outside my room seems distant and unimportant, and I can’t help but wonder how I could possibly face it without Granny by my side.
As the rain continues to pound against my window, I cling to the memories of my past, seeking solace in the love that Granny so selflessly gave me.
After my self-pity party, I eventually gather the strength to stand, feeling the need to wash away the anguish that clings to me. My wolves follow me into the bathroom, their presence comforting.
For once, I finally manage to hit the right buttons to make the shower water warm, and I step in, letting the water soothe my aching body and mind. Halfway through my shower, Gnash suddenly jumps to his feet and stares intently at the bathroom door.
“What is it, boy?” I ask, hastily washing the shampoo from my hair and eyes.
As I turn to see what has caught his attention, I spot Regan standing in the doorway of the bathroom, his eyes fixed on me. “Hate me all you want, but I’m not leaving,” he tells me, peeling off his soaking wet shirt.
Chapter Four
He drops it to the ground, and I grit my teeth. No matter what, I can’t seem to escape them.
He reaches for the shower door, but I grab it, holding it closed. He raises an eyebrow at me, and after a moment of hesitation, I let the door go.
“What kind of guard wolves are you if you let your master in?” I scold Gnash, who whines in response. Regan steps into the shower, and as I move to step around him and out of the shower, he grabs my arm.
“Stay,” he commands.
“I have nothing to say to you,” I reply, my voice cold.
“Fine, then I’ll speak for both of us,” Regan says, blocking my path and caging me against the wall.
“You’re treading dangerously, King Regan. Just remember, water is an element I now harness, and so is electricity. Last I checked, they aren’t a compatible mix,” I snarl at him.
“You don’t want to hurt me, Zirah. You wouldn’t have let me in the shower with you if you did. Gnash would have ripped me to pieces the moment you spotted me if you truly wanted me gone,” he retorts.
I shake my head, unwilling to admit he’s right. “I haven’t been his master since the moment you walked into my life,” Regan continues.
“Fine, if that is true, then . . .” I look at Gnash expectantly. “Eat him,” I tell the wolf, but he whines loudly and yawns before curling back up on the floor, clearly not taking the command seriously.
“You were saying? They aren’t just mine, and though they seem to choose me over you a lot, they don’t want to hurt you,”
“Gnash knows I am no threat to you. He knows I won’t hurt you,” Regan insists.
I scoff, my anger flaring. “You’ve done nothing but hurt me, Regan. Or should I call you Wrath?” He snarls in response, and I can’t help but growl back, surprised by the power emanating from my voice and aura.
“Seems I’m not the only one who can’t control my temper,” Regan mocks, but I’m unimpressed by his words.
Regan steps closer, and my breath hitches as I stare at his muscular chest while he towers over me. He grips my chin, tilting my head up and forcing me to meet his gaze. “But you’re forgetting one thing, Z,” he says, his eyes boring into mine as his hand moves to grip my neck.
“I’m not just wrath. I’m also lust.” Without warning, he kisses me hard, and I struggle against him, eventually shoving him away. We both pant heavily, our eyes locked in defiance, and when he smirks, his eyes flash dangerously.
“So which one do you want, Zirah? Which part of me excites you more?” he asks, his voice dripping with the challenge. Something inside me snaps, and I pounce on him, pressing my lips against his. His arms surround me, and he grabs my thighs, pulling me higher so I can wrap my legs around his waist.
My anger, confusion, and a lingering sense of betrayal swirl around me, creating a storm within my chest that rivals the one raging outside as I kiss him harder. Despite this, as Regan holds me, I can’t help but feel an ember of hope that not all trust has been lost—at least not with him.
The heat of our kiss intensifies, and Regan lifts me higher, carrying me out of the shower and back into my room. With a loud snap, he kicks the bathroom door shut to lock my wolves inside. As he tosses me onto the bed, my eyes dart to the bathroom door, but Gnash isn’t trying to break it down to get to me.
I turn my gaze back to Regan, my heart racing with a mixture of anticipation and anger as he crawls over me, his eyes dark with desire.
