“What is happening to me?” I rasped.
Kade settled his hands on my shoulders and squeezed. “I swear to you I’ll do everything in my power to find out, Arric.”
I bowed my head, and he led me back to the bookshelves.
Isla
“TELL ME EVERYTHING,” Catriona demanded, closing the library door. Our entire family was at the castle for our post-games traditional dinner happening later this evening, and it was the first time she and I had had a minute alone.
I filled her in on everything, and I meaneverything, because I knew she’d keep my secrets and take them to the grave.
“Wait, he glowed? Before or after you touched him?” she asked.
“After.”
“Bloody hell,” she breathed out. “Does that mean the two of you are mates?”
“No!” I frowned. “I don’t know.” I threw my hands in the air. “Shite, Cat, don’t say that. I hadn’t even considered that.”
“Well, you’ll know tomorrow,” she pointed out.
“No, I refuse to believe tomorrow will change anything relating to how I feel about Arric. He’s an arse.”
“Is he an arse because he’s an arse, or because he might be a little freaked out?”
“He’s an arse because he tried to kill my dad! Freaked out or not.”
Catriona crossed her arms and leaned toward me. “You said Uncle Kade said Arric wasn’t entirely in control of his actions, and I’m sure your dad can handle himself.”
“You weren’t there, Cat,” I said. “It was scary.”
“Imagine how spun up you’d be if you just now found out you were Cauld Ane.”
“Are we even sure he is Cauld Ane?” I asked. “I mean what about the tattoos?”
“What else could he be?”
“I told you, Cat. He’s an arse,” I said, my thoughts drifting. “Still…”
“Still, what?”
“I don’t know,” I said dismissively. “It’s nothing.”
“I know you, Isla. Nothing,nevermeans nothing.”
I dropped my head and stared at my shoes. “Okay, there’s something.”
“I knew it. Youlikehim.” Cat crooned.
“I do not. Haven’t you been paying attention?” I protested. “He’s nothing but an inked-up brute.”
“But you felt something between the two of you?”
“It’s hard to explain,” I said. “Even though Arric is this big scary guy, I’m not afraid of him. I can’t explain it, but when he had my dad by the throat, something inside of me knew he would release him if I told him to. The moment I spoke, his eyes locked onto mine and I could feel his emotions.”
“That shouldn’t be too surprising should it? You are an empath, after all.”
“This was different than anything I’ve felt before.”
