Page 20 of The Reign of Blood

Framing me in, his eyes are wild. It’s disgusting how hot he looks. Truly irritating, but if he thinks I’m going to falter under his rage, he’s come to the wrong place.

“You’re not going to intimidate me with whatever stare you think you have going on,” I point out, and he takes a step closer.

Fucker.

“I can fucking hear the racing beat of your heart telling me something different,” he grunts, hands clenching at his sides as I shake my head.

“No, you’re hearing it pounding. It’s not in fear. It’s adrenaline. There’s a difference.”

He inches closer again, only this time, we’re chest to chest. My stomach clenches as my eyes narrow, but before I can give him a piece of my mind, he lowers his face to mine.

“You lied.”

“You’ve already said that,” I retort, trying not to roll my eyes at him.

“Aren’t you sorry about it?”

“No.”

His eyes narrow, but I’m being honest with him. What more does he want?

“It’s good to see where we stand then,” he grunts, his irritation flowing off him in waves.

“Stand with what?” I can’t think straight when he’s this damn close to me.

“Us.” Two letters, one word, and a million implications.

“Whatus?”

“Don’t play dumb.”

Calling me dumb is the equivalent of setting off a detonator.

“Oh, I’m not playing. We fucked, and you made no objections when I was forced into a duel. None of that is on me. Well, maybe the winning, but that’s just who I am. I won’t submit, admit defeat, or die at the hands of someone when it’s just not my time.” I punctuate every point with a jab of my finger at his chest.

His eyes search mine, looking for fuck knows what, until he finds the question he’s eager to explore.

“And there was no part of you that thought I should know the truth?”

I can’t decide if he’s delusional or just that self-centered.

“When it was one of your kind, your father no less, that ran me out of my home and scarred me for life? No, I don’t think I owed you the truth. Not for a second.”

My chest heaves with every word, the truth falling between us as our short and heavy breaths mingle.

He stares and stares and stares.

Cassian Kenner, speechless? No way.

As if sensing my disbelief, he finds his tongue.

“My father’s actions aren’t a representation of me.”

I rear back, my head knocking against the wall as I frown at him. “I didn’t assume they were.”

His gaze narrows as the tension around us rises. His hands lift, planting against the wall on either side of my head. He leans closer, so close our noses touch. “Raiden said you would blame me.”

I scoff. “Raiden doesn’t know me well enough to make that assessment.”

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