Page 72 of Barbi and the Villain

“Oh,” I murmur. “That is kind of you.”

His smile vanishes.

“I am not kind, Barbi. I am practical. Do not mistake my actions for anything but self-interest. You are tied to me now, so I must ensure you are taken care of.”

“Right. How foolish of me to have forgotten that.” I roll my eyes. “Yet that doesn’t explain why you were nice to me before we were bonded. You can’t deny that?—”

In a split second, he’s in front of me. His scent drifts to my nostrils, soap and that specific scent of his. It gets under my skin as nothing else has ever done. Since I smelled it for the first time in that cell, I haven’t been able to take my mind off it.

I gulp down as I slowly raise my gaze to meet his.

“You were a distraction. Nothing more,” he enunciates each word. “Your manner reminded me of…someone,” he says as he brings a hand to my face, brushing a strand of hair out of my eyes. “I merely allowed myself to live in an illusion for a few moments.”

“Who?” I whisper.

A sad smile forms on his lips.

“It does not concern you. Now go.”

I stare at him for a moment longer before I slowly retreat, closing the door to the bathroom.

13

“You still haven’t told me where we’re going,” I grumble as I wipe the sweat off my forehead. We’ve been walking in this forest for hours. “And why we have to walk and not teleport like you always do.”

PomPom and BonBon are walking by my side, wiggling their tails. Their faces are the epitome of happiness as they explore their new surroundings. Surprisingly, they haven’t made a sound of protest at the long distance.

The forest is thick, the canopy obscuring the sky. There is a myriad of sounds around, all pointing to different creatures that might pop out and bite me.

So what if I’m technically immortal now thanks to this annoying bond to Mister Grumpy Pants? I still wouldn’t appreciate being bitten by a giant anaconda or whatever prowls in the forests of Akkaya.

And since I’m wearing a dress that only reaches past my knees, my calves are fair game for the tall grass and plants that brush against me. There is no beaten path where we’re going—nothing to indicate anyone’s been around for years.

I scratch my ankle, the spot red from the bite of an insect. It itches, and I’m getting annoyed. But I take consolation in the fact that he’s itching too.

Nykander stops, raising a brow at me as he studies me from head to toe.

“You will know when we get there,” he answers cryptically.

“See, now, Mr. Dark One. I don’t appreciate being kept in the dark, no matter how much you might like it there,” I tell him pointedly. “I get that I’m basically your portable food bank, but I would appreciate some information.”

His lips tremble with mirth at my description of portable food bank.

“I cannot teleport us to a place I have never been,” he answers slowly. “My powers only work with familiar places.”

“Oh,” I murmur.

“It is getting dark. We should camp here for the night,” he mentions, ignoring my actual questions.

He studies the area, settling on a remote spot between two giant trees. He leaves me alone as he teleports back and forth to bring supplies—fresh water, food, and a makeshift tent that he ties on the branch of each tree to provide a modicum of cover. When he’s done, he builds a fire and disappears again.

I’m staying by the sidelines, staring at him as he moves at the speed of light arranging everything. But it’s when he teleports back for the last time that my heart explodes in my chest.

He quietly carries two dog beds and lays them in the tent. PomPom and BonBon give him a happy bark each and a lick as they hurry to their beds, exhausted after a day of walking.

“That was thoughtful of you.” I take a seat by the fire.

He grunts, turning his attention to setting up the rest of the tent while I heat up some food.

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