But I trusted Braxton’s judgment. If he thought I should keep my dual nature to myself for a while, well, that’s what I’d do. Even if Louis suspected, I wasn’t going to confirm it for him.
“Just a burst of power which released my wolf. I was no longer restricted by the securities on the prison.” I stayed as close to the truth as I could. “I sort of got some dragon features, but I locked the power back inside before anything too much happened.”
He nodded. “Your power is immense. I’m guessing that you’re so used to keeping it all contained that you haven’t even noticed the massive increase.”
It wasn’t exactly true, I could feel the curled sleeping power of my dragon. She was happy, content. It was strange, I’d expected a snarling beast and I knew that part of her could emerge at any time, but for right now … it was almost as if she was part wolf.
“I’m going to have to place my hands on your chest.” He had both of his arms aloft in front of him but hesitated to drop them on me. I knew he was waiting to see if I was okay with such intimate contact … especially after yesterday.
I bit my lip before nodding. “Thanks for checking in on my mental state, but I’m fine. Touch away.”
Dark streaks of blue flashed across his eyes. “I imagined you saying those words, just in slightly different circumstances.” He raised his eyebrows at me a few times. “But I’ll take it.”
We were still standing close to his hidden home and the waterfall that concealed it. Soft strands of green grass curled around my bare feet, and small slivers of sunshine broke through the canopy. It was cold today, but somehow Louis kept his area nice and temperate. My toes were thanking him for this. In one smooth movement he placed both hands on my chest, in the space just above the swell of my breasts. I flinched minutely, unable to stop my thoughts from returning to yesterday – my disgust and fear as that creature ran his hands over my body. I could still taste the bile and smell the fear which had permeated the air. My fear.
“Jessa.” Louis’ voice was commanding. I raised my eyes to meet his. “Look at me.” His voice softened. “Focus on me.”
I did as he said, focusing on his face and forcing myself to take long, deep breaths. I would not let this beat me; so many women had had it far worse. They hadn’t been saved. I needed to remember that.
“Time will rid those memories, Jessa. Don’t be so hard on yourself, you don’t have to be strong all the time.”
“There you go reading my mind again.” How did he do that?
He dropped his forehead against mine. “I can see it written across your face. You keep beating yourself up for what you consider your weakness. I know how hard it is to be strong all the time and not to know what to do when that falls away.” Lifting his face, he dropped a kiss to my forehead, in the same place his head had just rested. “What happened yesterday in no way diminishes your strength.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
We were quiet for the next few minutes, and in that time the strain across Louis’ features increased.
“I can’t lock your energy away. It’s strong and has taken root, moving through your body, into your cells. It’s part of you in a way I can no longer separate. Our one chance is for me to cloak you. It will hide the energy from anyone searching for the dragon mark, but it’s not locked away. You can access the power, and if you do, they’ll be able to find you.”
“Why didn’t you just do that originally?”
He laughed. “We worried about a child having that much power, and you wouldn’t have had the restraint to stop yourself accessing it. Now hopefully your control is good enough for this. Remember, the Four will find you if you use your mark power.”
I nodded. Warning duly noted. There was a sharp jab, followed by what felt like tingles caressing their way up and down my body. Then Louis stepped back. I shook myself out. It was the strangest sensation, like he’d poured a second skin over my body.
“Going to take some getting used to,” I said, forcing myself not to scratch at my arms.
“The numb itchiness will die down shortly and the sensations will be much easier to deal with.”
I freaking hoped so. I was like thirty seconds from dropping to the ground and rolling around in the grass.
Our heads spun toward Stratford as the town siren started to blare. The alarm wasn’t used much. It was a signal for the townspeople to gather in the city center.
“Is that because of the Four?” I asked.
Louis nodded. “Yep, they’re infamous in the supernatural world. Their presence alone demands some fanfare. They’ll be wanting to search out the source of the mark energy.”
He linked his hand through mine and started to lead me into town. The itching sensation was subsiding, but still a little irritating.