Page 33 of Auctioned Mate

“Are you saying I’m fat?”

I frowned. “I’ve said no such thing, little wolf. Your comfort is my priority, so you must take the bed. It’s only proper.”

She stared at me for a long time. What was it she thought about while she stared at me in moments such as these? Snippets of feelings came through the mire in various colors—an excessively bright scarlet with tiny streaks of sunny orange seemed the most common for her. That was her passion. What lurked beneath was a bed of muddy violet that reminded me of the moors.

That was her depression.

Such extensive feelings created vibrant, illustrative colors. And hers were far more impressionable than any I’d witnessed. Most people gave off a medley of colors that usually blended well together. Yet hers constantly fought against each other. It seemed she was in a perpetual inner battle.

She pursed her lips, made a sound that resembled agreement, and then went to the window to throw open the curtains. “Oh, you get so much sun here.”

“I love the sun.” I joined her at the window, keeping enough distance between us to satisfy her. “I dare say I draw more life from the sun than anything else.”

“Have you ever killed anyone?”

Questions like those were typical for soldiers, and why wouldn’t they be? As a commander at one point, I had led many into battle. I had fought horror unseen by this realm. I had witnessed terror in its purest form.

But hearing that question from her mouth made me feel guilty. “The witch will be here soon.”

“Witch?”

“Etta. She will be helping me with the wards around the house.”

Macy’s gaze softened as she peered through the window. What wonders did she see out there? Had she ever experienced such a view? It was a simple yard connected to the woods with a lush garden, so it must have been something she had witnessed in her time. “Do you want to go outside?”

She turned to me with a shocked expression. “No, I just…”

“You just seem like you’ve never laid eyes on flowers.”

“It’s not that.”

I studied her countenance, noticing the dip that formed beneath her lips when the corners of her mouth drooped into her jawline. A certain glaze had fallen over her irises.

“Macy, please, don’t ever hesitate to ask me for anything. I’ve rescued you from that immoral den and I pledge to protect you from whomever or whatever may attempt to come after you.”

Sharp, jagged lines formed around her energy. She was putting up a shield without so much as a glance in my direction. Things like that occurred when people weren’t apt to share their experiences or thoughts. That must have been what she meant by needing space as well.

Though I didn’t entirely understand our connection, I knew I could prod her mind every so often for a glimpse into her mental chatter. Right now, a towering steel wall stood between me and her mind. I respected that. Her space was hers, and my space was mine. I wasn’t about to violate the sanctity of her thoughts.

I sighed as I turned away.Izdor and Galanthia do it all the time. I understand.

Macy touched my arm. It was so light, so feathery that it dragged goosebumps up the length of my arm and over my shoulder. I turned enough to look at her, trying to control the way my body reacted to her presence. I still didn’t quite understand that either.

“I’m sorry. I just…” She hauled a breath so loudly that I thought she would start screaming instead of talking. But she whispered instead, “I’m not used to being treated like this.”

“Whatever makes you comfortable is what I’ll do. I’ll give you space.”

Difficulties abounded as I drifted away from her to reach the door. A canyon sprang up between me and the hallway, a gaping crater so wide that it seemed impossible to cross. And when I glanced back after trekking hesitantly across the carpet, it felt like I had walked for decades.

She seemed so far away. But that must have been the distant expression on her face. She was trapped inside her own world now, lost in a sea of thoughts that were lashing her from every side. Although I couldn’t hear them, I could tell they were wringing her dry. The poor woman had gone from totally vibrant energy to utter depletion.

What bothered her so much?

She just escaped abuse,I reasoned mentally.She’s been thrown into a new environment. She’s been flown across the city and forced to sleep in a place she doesn’t like.

But it was for her safety, and I was being a good soldier by giving her my room. The lock on the door was much stronger than the one in the office, the bed was far comfier, and the window gave way to ample sunlight. She would recharge soon and see the benefits of using my quarters as her own. The couch would suffice for me.

An almost comical feeling drifted over me when I approached the couch. That thing wasn’t nearly long enough to accommodate my body. My feet would hang right off the edge. Surely the woman would see reason at some point and ask me to sleep next to her. It wasn’t like I hadn’t seen her naked, or had her in various positions, or kissed her hard enough to bruise her lips.

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