Free Maiden's Wolf (In Deception's Shadow Book 3) by Lisa Blackwood

the Elemental races.”
    “I am not on
speaking terms with most of humanity.” She grinned. Here was a question she
could answer truthfully for the first time in her life and not fear the fire
and the stake. “Most humans are taught to fear magic as the greatest of evils.
I am different, and know magic itself isn’t evil. I am mage-born, but have only
ever used my magic to heal those in need. I’ve found my magic can make a person
forget. It’s a handy ability.” Waving at him, she clarified. “Not that I would
try that with you, as you are mage-born as well, and I feel that my secret is
safe in your keeping.”
    Silverblade
snorted with bitterness. “No, you do not have to fear me telling an acolyte
about your magic.”
    “And you are
kind.”
    His one ear
flicked in her direction and she could see her admission surprised him a touch.
His look said, ‘She doesn’t even know me. Why does the foolish human think I’m
kind?’
    “Ah,” she said
when his one eyebrow arched up in question. “You think I’m not able to judge
the heart of a neighbor I sat across from while enjoying a meal we shared? I
assure you, my magic is capable of studying a person and judging them worthy of
my trust.”
    She held the bowl
of stew out to him once again and he took it and then the spoon she handed him.
Once he started to eat, she scooped up a bowl for herself. They ate in
companionable silence, even though she had many more questions she wanted to
ask. There was a tension to the silence, and she could only imagine what was
going through his head. Probably still trying to determine if she could be
trusted. There was nothing she could say to reassure him, only time could aid
him in that. Though she hoped they might become friends in truth.
    It would be nice
to have someone to talk to besides her brother and grandmother on the long
journey. That he was a lupwyn and likely knew the fastest way to make the
journey was an added benefit. But that wasn’t why she’d healed him.
    When she’d
compared him to a neighbor, it was true.
    She frowned in
thought. A very close-mouthed neighbor.
     
    *****
     
    Beatrice was just
finishing her own stew when Silverblade set his bowl down and picked up the cup
of tea she’d slid his way earlier. He sipped it and then looked over the rim at
her.
    “Thank you for
healing me and for the shared meal.”
    “You’re welcome.”
    He fell silent
again and she figured one sentence was about all she’d get out of him for
another candlemark.
    But he surprised
her. “I am familiar with the Stonemantle name, though I have not met the Crown
Prince’s bondmate in person.”
    Beatrice debated
what to say to keep the lupwyn talking. “I cannot claim close friendship with
Ashayna Stonemantle like I can her two younger sisters. Ashayna has always been
aloof and fearful of magic.”
    The lupwyn
grunted and shifted positions to sit cross-legged. This position freed his tail
and her eyes were drawn to where it poked out of the blanket. She noted the
lupwyn didn’t seem to care that he was completely naked. A sneaking suspicion
nagged at her thoughts that he only kept the blanket across his lap for her
sake. As a healer, she wasn’t a modest type, but she was still secretly pleased
he covered up. It allowed her to study the rest of his body without feeling
like she was ogling him.
    Hers was a purely
medical interest of course.
    Although she was
woman enough to notice his wide shoulders, heavily muscled upper body, and the
shadows and light contrasting his abdomen. Hmmm…the other, less human parts
might take a little adjusting to, but there was nothing about him that made her
want to jump up and run away. And what human features remained were still those
she’d known when he pretended to be a trapper.
    She’d always had
a difficult time determining his age. His appearance made him seem like her
contemporary, but his demeanor suggested he was far older. Regardless, she’d
secretly always thought him