Page 100 of The Reign of Blood

Clearing my throat, I settle my gaze on his. “How about we get to the point you’re here for? Then, you can get the fuck out,” I grumble, stretching his smile out as he closes the window and settles the roses on the desk.

He retakes his position on the chair as he nods at the bed. “Get comfortable, Adrianna.”

Pursing my lips, I narrow my eyes at him as I slowly take a seat at the bottom of my bed.

“Perfect. So why are you mad, Adrianna?” he asks, getting straight into it. His eyes are almost… gentle, his tone light, and his facial features relaxed—a complete contrast to the man who usually stands before me.

I tilt my head at him. “The Raiden I’m familiar with is rash, full of outbursts and rage… not this.”

“I’m trying something new. Entertain me.”

“I’d rather not.”

He doesn’t respond, not a single word, as he waits me out.

Just spit it out, Addi. The sooner you get it off your chest, the quicker he will leave.

“Fine, I’m mad that I was completely bombarded by Vallie and her dickhead father in front of everyone in attendance at the ball. Everyone except you, the very reason I was being bombarded in the first place. The last words you spoke to me were actually an apology for the fact that you entered the event with Vallie. You have a fucking talent of constantly showing up in my life, interjecting yourself when I don’t need it. Yet when you were actually needed, you were nowhere to be seen.” I sound petulant, but I don’t care. I know my worth, and I’m not going to have some guy, hot vampire or not, giving me hot words and even hotter stares when they leave me in the shit when it actually matters.

“So you don’t think I had to apologize for leaving with Vallie?” he asks, brows knitting in confusion, and I shrug.

“No.”

“Bullshit.”

“Raiden, my problem isn’t with you entering the ball with her. It’s that you left me stranded. Don’t go off-topic,” I grumble, and he shakes his head at me.

“It’s not off-topic. I think it’s completely relevant and total bullshit.”

He’s clearly not going to let this go. “How?”

“If you had to leave with a guy that wasn’t Kryll, Brody, or Cassian, then I would be beyond furious,” he grunts, his jaw ticking at the thought of it.

“Whatever I do with any guy, one of your friends or not, has nothing to do with you.”

He scoffs. “Keep telling yourself that.”

“You’re delirious,” I bite, hands balling into fists in my lap as I glare at him.

“No, I’m focused. You just haven’t caught up yet.”

“I don’t plan to,” I snap back, irritated with myself that my sass is revealing just how much he’s getting under my skin.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, trying to gather some self-control.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”

My chest tightens at the sincerity in his voice, forcing me to look back at him again.

“It doesn’t matter now. I already said that at breakfast. I’ll get over it without your apology. It’s just going to take a minute for me to realize it didn’t matter.” I lace my fingers together in my lap, attempting to offer a simple smile, but it just feels like my lips are set in a thin line.

“It did matter,” he states, staring deep into my eyes as I shake my head.

“It didn’t.”

“I was summoned by my mother.”

“What?”

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