Page 85 of Barbi and the Villain

Unfortunately, Nykander’s is the wrong kind.

Nykander chuckles.

“Oh, Barbi, Barbi.” He shakes his head. “What am I going to do with you?”

I take my time as I consider a witty reply that won’t have him mocking me again. But it seems I am too slow as he drops the tent to the ground and teleports himself in front of me.

His hand shoots out, his palm unfurling in front of me just as an arrow pierces his flesh.

An arrow meant for me.

My eyes widen in shock.

“They were some poor people in need of help, huh?” he asks slowly as he plucks the arrow from his hand. But just as I wait for his wound to mend, it doesn’t.

There is a blue substance clinging to the arrowhead, and particles of it are now embedded in his flesh.

“Damnation,” he mutters, squeezing his eyes shut and taking a deep breath.

When he opens his eyes again, they’re a different shade of gray. A tumultuous one that’s frayed by pain.

Dark mist surrounds us like a shield as more arrows descend upon us. But it’s not before he pulls PomPom and BonBon next to us inside the protective shell.

His hand still does not heal.

“What’s happening? Who are they?” I ask as I hug my babies to my chest.

“What, not who. They are demons.”

“Demons… But… Why didn’t you say so before? You let me give them our food!”

His lips pull up in a smile.

“Would it have mattered?”

I blink.

“You do not listen, Barbi. You are brash and impulsive, and you throw yourself head first into danger without considering the consequences.”

“It was just this once,” I whisper. “I didn’t know…”

“Oh, but it was not just this once, was it? We are here, are we not? This would have not happened if you were a good girl and returned to your world when I told you so. It would not have happened if you did not stubbornly decide to follow me.”

Just when I thought we had made a little progress, he throws this in my face again. As if I wanted to be mated to him. The gall on this man! Who asked him to give me his blood? If anything, it’s on him. He knew about the potential danger of exchanging blood. I didn’t even know what kind of creature he was before all this.

So how am I, who was wholly ignorant, the guilty one?

“Nykander…” I stop myself when I see the look of pure hatred crossing his face as he regards me. His dark mist envelops us in a cocoon that repels all the arrows coming our way. And there are many, each one emitting a loud bang as it touches the mist and falls to the ground, nearly obliterated.

“This is one of many lessons I will have to teach you. Because you are my mate and I am responsible for you, whether I want it or not.”

I avert my gaze as a sliver of guilt washes through me.

His words hurt. Not just because he is right about my impulsivity, but also because it’s clear how much he dislikes me.

I am sure if he could, he would have turned me into dust too—a long time ago.

I take a deep breath. This is not the moment to dwell on this wretched situation and the fact that the person I have the silliest crush on absolutely abhors me.

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