Chapter 27

Movement had her gaze darting to Leon. Her pulse sped when she saw he’d moved to grip the edge of the pool, tension visible in every line of his powerful form. He looked like he was holding himself back from standing and prowling toward her, and losing the battle.

Her attention zeroed in on the hair tie around his wrist, butterflies fluttering in her stomach at the realization that he still had it and, more, that he was still wearing it.

Much as it had the first time she noticed it, seeing him wear something of hers sent a heady thrill through her.

Fear’s low, strangled groan drew her focus to him. He, too, was almost vibrating with tension, arms held stiffly at his sides, the towel clenched tightly in his fist.

His eyes, no longer the grey he used to blend in with the humans—as if anyone who looked like him could blend in—were a vivid, luminous shade of purple she’d last seen that night in the dungeon.

Distracted, the subtle drawing of power didn’t register u