12. Prince Cole
Chapter 12
Prince Cole
“The changes we dread most
may contain our salvation.”
— Barbara Kingsolver
T he next day, I kept my distance, strategically avoiding her. She’s a distraction I can’t afford while I wait for her to discover her power. It’s like I’m holding my breath, hoping she’ll figure it out as fast as possible.
As I step out of my room, she’s suddenly there, blocking my path. I catch a whiff of her fragrance—a mix of freshly laundered linen and cool morning air as if she had just strolled through a garden in full spring.
Her eyes lock onto mine, her hands resting on her hips like a nagging granny. “You’ve been avoiding me.”
“Avoiding you? Please, I was just giving you a chance to miss me.”
“Oh, is that what you call it? I thought you were giving me a chance to appreciate how much better things are when you’re not around.”
“Feisty as ever, darling.” I lean in slightly. “Are you picking up a fight to have an excuse to talk to me?”
“Trust me, you’re not nearly as captivating as you think you are.”
“Yet here you are,” I retort. “Standing in my way, demanding my attention.”
“Spare me your arrogance?—”
“So furious. Am I affecting you that much?”
“Yes,” she scoffs. “You’re like an annoying and persistent itch that won’t go away.”
“Am I supposed to feel offended? Even an itch can be satisfying when you scratch it just right.”
“The only thing you’re scratching is my patience.”
“Funny,” I reply, “because despite all your complaints, you’re still here.”
“I’m bored,” she sighs. “Rafe is practically hiding from me, and I don’t know what to do with my time.”
“Ah, so it’s not me you’re after. It’s just a lack of better options, and you’re using me as a distraction from your boredom.” I snort. “I’m flattered, really.”
“You need my help, so you better entertain me as long as I’m here.” She crosses her arms, giving me a challenging look.
“Well, here’s the thing—I’m not really in the mood to entertain you.”
I catch the glint of a suppressed eye roll before she responds, “And what were you planning to do instead?”
“You mean before you showed up and threw off my plans? I was actually planning to go hunting.”
“How did you learn to hunt and fight?”
“My father taught me.”
“Great,” she says. “Now you can teach me. If I’m going to be stuck here, I might as well learn something useful.”
I raise a brow in surprise. “You want me to teach you how to fight?”
“What, you think just because I’m a woman I can’t learn how to fight?”
She’s as stubborn as she is infuriating.
“Not at all.” I tilt my head and study her. “I think you’re a woman—use it. Bring every man you meet to his knees.”