His face arranged itself into a frightening smile. “We thought they were, too. But since you’re so interested in learning about shifters?—”
“I never said—” History scholar, I was not.
“Over a millennium ago,” he started, talking right over me as we ambled down the road. “With an exceptional display of power and faith, the Goddess Veretis opened a gate and brought shifters to the Harrowlands, looking for refuge. In the Shadow Veil, they treated us as slaves, pests, even food, and the Goddess grew weary of her people’s oppression.”
This was going to be a long trip, if these were the stories he was going to tell. My feet felt heavier than ever. My legs rubbed together with every step until they burned a bit raw. Perhaps this skirt wasn’t such a good idea.
“Evie?”
I snapped to, stiffening my spine. Was I sagging?
“Sorry. It looked like I was boring you,” he said.
He was definitely boring me, but I wasn't thinking about walking anymore.
“Oh, not at all.” My polite tone was totally not fake. I would focus on his hair to get through the lecture—the soft fuzz at the back of his neck, the waves that tumbled over his forehead.
“Veretis guided her people well in the new land before all the Godds died and, though it took over a thousand years, shifters eventually became an essential part of the fabric of the Harrowlands.”
“A thousand years? They sound like the worst neighbors ever. Who takes a thousand years to warm up to a giant teddy bear?”
Ward’s face wobbled into a smile, suppressing a laugh. “We’re not all so cuddly. Once all the Godds were gone, the shifters didn't unite under a single King like the Elves or Fae.”
He continued with an extensive history of the shifter race, descriptions of the pockets of the Harrowlands they spread to, various culture changes throughout the years and my head ached. How did one person remember so much? My numbed brain resorted to staring at his flexing biceps as we did not stop walking. It wasn’t the most elevated thing to think about, but it kept my eyes from wandering lower and lulled me into walking.
“Mate.”
I blinked.
“Evie?”
This was becoming a bad habit. The story must have ended because he wasn’t drowning me in history anymore and we hadn’t conveniently arrived at dusk, though we had made it out of the bog. Still, there wasn't a city in sight, just picturesque forest and fields, so there was still so much trudging to do.
“Do you need a break?” Ward put a hand on my shoulder, a concerned look on his face. “I will carry you and your pack when you shift into your snake form.”
That was quite an offer. In my new jumbo size, I easily spanned his whole outstretched arms and then some. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to be held by him, but I didn’t want to give up so soon. Ward’s skin glistened. My sweat dripped everywhere. Ev-ery-where. How did he manage that?
“I can do it,” I gasped, stepping forward and out of his concerned grasp. My leg wobbled off to the side like a pile of cold gravy. I crumpled into the dirt, right in the middle of the road. My legs gave up for me.
“Evie! What’s the matter?” Ward knelt in the dust to check me for injury.
“I just need a break, like you said.” No way was I going to tell him what was really wrong. Gravy legs highlighted a fresh problem.
Ward joined me on the ground, more at ease in the dirt than I expected a King would be. He turned me over and I had to separate my legs. They were threatening to fuse.
“Viper. Do you normally sit with your legs apart like you want me between them?”
Had he heard my walking thoughts? I backed up a bit. “No, thanks.” This was too embarrassing for anyone to see. What if he laughed, or winced?
Ward pressed a hand on my knee. “Let me see. I will be an utter gentleman.”
It was completely unfair. He looked pristine and refreshed, like we were out for an afternoon stroll.
“My thighs need a moment to cool off. You’re not seeing them. Not a chance, buck-o.”
I shoved my hands down over my skirt. I didn’t care that it made it impossible for any breeze to reach my burning thighs. That was, in no part, the way to keep us in the “not mates” zone.
“I’ve already seen you naked. Don’t be shy, Evie.”
