Chapter 22

Elena’s POV

I am sick of the spring water and after a glance at King Harvey I see he is fine. I want to ask more about his war scars, but I think that is a very sensitive topic to ask him about war. We are happy right now.

I will not be the one to push him into a bad mindset.

“King Harvey, I know we have three days together, and it is late. Perhaps … could we go to the flower shop nearby? It was my mom’s favorite...” I am too nervous to look him in the eyes, but he lifts my chin to look at him.

“Elena, whatever you want I will grant you.” King Harvey runs his pointer finger down the side of my face, chasing my right cheekbone.

My heart pounds violently at his words and actions. I need to learn to accept his affection, but after a lifetime of being a mother to both my father and sister, it is hard for me to think I would be living in a romantic situation that is safe and loving.

“Thank you, King Harvey.” I lower my head and blush, and he leans in and kisses my nose.

“I am sick of this hot water.” King Harvey lifts me out of the hot spring and then stands and in one step is out of the tall hot spring. A warm red towel is wrapped around my shoulders, and he dries my back, hardly touching it.

“Do my wounds look any better?”

“It seems the hot water has helped, Elena. We will be together very soon.” King Harvey comments warmly.

Oh.

My heart fumbles as my knees buckle out of fear. King Harvey picks me up and walks us back to the hotel room. Gently, I am placed on the heart shaped bed. I need to distract him from his rage. More talking is needed and affection.

“King Harvey… may I dry you?”

I need to distract myself and the more I touch him, the more real all this is, maybe I will learn to trust my instincts more and him. King Harvey simply nods and takes a seat beside me. As a show of trust, I take the towel off my shoulders and dry his face smoothly.

Taking time, I feel the depth of his cheekbones and strength of his stone jaw. King Harvey places his hands on my wrists and looks up at me.

“Many would kill to be in your position, Elena.”

I can’t help but laugh at his serious words. “What, King Harvey, drying you?”

This time, King Harvey laughs. “Elena, I am inaccessible to all but you and my kin.”

“Oh, you mean emotionally.” I think out loud.

I am correct. King Harvey nods seriously.

“I have never been in a relationship, Elena. I wanted to focus deeply on providing for my people and my kingdom.”

“King Harvey, you came to power when they were so much violence with werewolves, you were royalty before?”

King Harvey’s eyes sparkle with pride. “Yes, Elena, you have caught that. I was trained to be in the shadows until the time arrived, the Bonus Child of the Howl.”

“…did you lie about who you were?”

“No one knew I existed. I am the only child to my parents; they kept me hidden for protection and that came in handy.”

I take a deep breath. “If we were to have…children…?”

I am not brave enough to finish this sentence. But King Harvey is.

King Harvey relaxes in my grasp as I run the towel down his wide back and then move to the back of his arms. I get on the bed beside him but move to be behind him to see his back and not stare at his face.

I am emotionally drained and don’t wish to fluster myself even more. I am running out of stamina.

There is one massive scar in a jag down his spine that reminds me of a thunderbolt. It is from war. It even looks violent.

The scar on the back of his neck is a massive X, practically starting under the back of his ears. There is a slight point to his ears, almost like an elf that I never got to see because he is a foot taller than me.

“Our kin will be loved and safe, Elena. I believe we may have to hide them from the world, especially in a violent world.”

“You would like them to be raised the way you were?” I ask, moving to quickly dry off his chest.

Suddenly, my nerves get the best of me, and I just want to get out of this room and go to the flower shop. I need to calm my running mind, fast.

“Yes, with love.”

I nod at his words and return to stand between his muscular legs. His thigh muscles jump when I lightly run the towel across the front of his chest. I move down cautiously but quickly. It is like wiping down a stone statue.

The scars all over his chest vary in size. He is a fearsome fighter.

“Do you mind if we go shopping?”

Stoically, King Harvey nods at my question and moves to the bathroom to change. I go into the spare and see a simple sweet red dress waiting for me, his color. I put it on, and he guides me to the flower shop in a peaceful silence.

King Harvey steps into the flower shop without a word and comes out with a collection of red roses that are pure silk. He hands them to me in silence.

“I ordered this last night, Elena.”

“…how did you know?”

King Harvey smiles. “I wanted you to match me in red.”

“Thank you.” I take the massive bouquet of red roses and carry them in my arms like a wounded cat but say nothing. I want to talk to him more, and is there a reason to investigate this store now?

No… not without my mother.

King Harvey attentively catches my hesitance and puts a hand on my shoulder. “Elena,” he whispers in my ear. “Would you like to know how I know you are a warrior?”

“Yes?”

“That knife you stole… I admire you carrying it everywhere. I will show you something.” King Harvey pulls out a little leather-bound book and opens it to the middle of the book.

His large, clawed pointer finger presses to the center of the page, then he lowers it and shows me a pencil sketch of a werewolf standing on two feet. There is a red slash on the right ankle, then left knee, a red X over its chest.

“Oh.” I breathe.

“What does this mean, Elena?”

“This is how to kill a werewolf.” I say with confidence. “Why are you showing me this?”

“If you must, Elena, memorize this, in case you need to kill me.”