My top emotion was fear, my back tense with it.
I asked softly, “Why was Cassander following me?”
“Because he knew.”
“And he didn’t tell you?”
He hissed, “The seer keeps many secrets.”
I peered in Cassander’s direction where he still had his eyes closed and was continually massaging his forehead. “Your job sucks, Cassander.”
Under his rubbing hand, silver eyes peeked open. “That is an understatement.”
CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE
Godric clamped his hand down on my shoulder, keeping me steady on my feet as we exited the train. “Are you going to faint again?”
I shook my head. “No.”
The world and my life had altered in the matter of a few hours—but I was made of stronger stuff. My father’s genes were potent, and I had them in spades. The existence in which I lived may have transformed, but I would roll with it. I wouldn’t be trampled on by the truth.
We stopped just outside the train to wait for Cassander and Finn. They were talking inside the transport, giving Godric and me a moment of privacy.
I stared at Godric’s house before me.
It was a mansion of white stucco with a red tiled roof constructed on a rocky outcrop, the land reminiscent of a peninsula with ice blue water surrounding it on three sides.
My eyebrows lifted gradually. I didn’t peek up at him as I spoke, but my eyes remained trained on where he lived.
“You’re a lion, right?”
“A lion shifter,” he clarified.
His hand was still tense on my shoulder.
The man had effectively shut down again after all the details of who and what they were had finished on our ride.
I cleared my throat. “Then why do you choose to live here? It doesn’t look like a place a lion would hunker down. There aren’t any trees or sand or tall grass nearby—and it’s so open.”
The area was beautiful, but not wild.
“Really?” he asked in a dry tone.
“What?” I shrugged. “If I were a lion, I wouldn’t live here.”
“I’m also a man, Poppy.”
“So, you like this then?”
“It’s a little extravagant, but yes. I do like it.”
I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Why am I here?”
He didn’t answer, his hand tightening on my shoulder. His massive body crept behind me. The heat flowing off him was delicious, but he was still intimidating.
“Godric, answer my question.”
He bent and placed his lips against my left ear, and whispered, “Do you want to run away? Because I would probably enjoy that. I adore a great chase.”
