Page 34 of Cinder's Trial

I’d assumed he’d fallen asleep until he said, “You don’t have to worry.”

“Who says I’m worried?”

“You’re still awake.”

“So are you,” I pointed out.

“I don’t need much rest.”

“Who says I do?”

He grumbled, “Is there a reason why you don’t like me?”

The query floored. “Why would you think I don’t like you?”

“For one, I’m the only person you argue with.”

Valid, so how to explain? “You are, but in my defense, you’re bossy.”

“So is Hilda, and yet you do your job without argument at work.”

“That’s different.”

“Not really. This is still work.”

“For you maybe, but for me, this is very personal.” I paused then added. “I’m an office agent so not usually the one dealing with the side effects of curses. Not since the ball decades ago has it ever focused on me.”

“That must be disturbing.”

“Very. Mostly because I don’t understand what it means.”

“We’ll figure it out.”

I snorted. “Scientists and everyone with a brain cell has been trying since the Grimm Effect emerged to find answers. We’re still waiting.”

“I think it’s obvious the curse is attempting to murder you.”

“But why? I’m not even a contender for the prince’s hand.”

“Maybe it wants you to be. Would it be so bad? Killian seems a decent sort.” His voice turned gruff as he said it.

“He’s not so bad. However, like I said before, I want love.”

“Even if it means your life?”

I thought about that before shaking my head on the pillow, only to realize he couldn’t see the motion. “I’m a person who wants her happily ever after but on my terms, not because of some curse. I want a man to fall in love with me, for me. Not because of magic.”

“Some people say love is its own form of spell.”

“Do you think love is magic?”

“I don’t think about love at all.” A flat reply.

“Surely you’ve cared for someone in the past.”

He made a noise. “Yeah, and it was a mistake.”

“Oh, what happened?” Yes, I pried, but given he seemed willing to talk, I wanted to understand him better.

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