Page 77 of The Evernight Court

“That’s a good idea, too,” he said. “I didn’t think you were that smart, to be honest. Beautiful women usually aren’t.”

I could have fucking laughed.

Instead, I just moved away from his reach. “You’ll come to find that women can be whatever they want to be regardless of how they look,” I spit. “And don’t touch me again, Romin. I am not as helpless as the last time I was here.”

That certainly surprised him. And maybe it wasn’t my best move to flat out threaten him like that—we both knew what he was capable of. But I was still shocked and pissed off and irritated like all hell at his absurdity.

“Is that so?” He grinned, perfectly amused.

“Yes. I gave Genevieve my blood and she gave me magic. Raw magic—and it works.” Just in case he thought I was joking.

But he didn’t. He didn’t laugh and he wasn’t amused anymore, either—he just looked like I’d kneed him in the balls again. “Blood?”

“Yes, blood.”

“So, that’s why you smell different…” he whispered. I had no idea that Ismelled different,so I said nothing. “Why blood?”

I shrugged. “It’s what she asked for.”

He raised a brow. “And you thought it was a good idea to give your blood to a woman you claim tried to kill you?”

My stomach twisted and turned uncomfortably, but at least I didn’t feel like I was about to throw up what I’d eaten yet. “I didn’t have another choice, did I?”

He and his brothers would have fucking devoured me—they tried. Emil almost bit me and raped me in front of Tristian.

Before Valentine stopped him.

Something’s wrong,my own mind insisted.Something’s very, very wrong…

“You’ve certainly given me a lot to think about,” Romin said with a deep sigh, and his fangs finally retreated.

“Not just think but act. Talk to people. Talk to Genevieve. Figure out what Valentine can do out there—just figure it out.” He shouldn’t have wanted to even sit downbefore he did. “Talk to Sedelis, too—talk to all of them.”

Without a word, he raised his hand and the doors of his office opened wide to tell me that I was dismissed.

I turned to find both Emil and Tristian right there in the hallway, one on either side of the doors leaning against the wall, watching me.

“Go back to your tower now, Fall. I’ll be taking your stories under consideration.” And Romin started walking toward the open doors.

“Consideration?” I followed reluctantly. “You can surely do more than that. All I ask is that you speak to these people. All I?—”

“And I will, if I see it reasonable. But I’ve just lost the second brother within the same month, and I need a moment to gather my thoughts. It’s only fair, don’t you think?” I couldn’t be sure if he was just fucking with me, or if he actually meant it, but he stopped by the open doors and said, “Now, go. Get out of here.”

Fuck.

I looked at Emil and Tristian, grinning ear to ear as they waited for me to pass them by, and bile finally rose up my throat.

Were they going to attack me again? Was one going to try toeatme while the other watched?

“Is there something wrong?”

I looked up at Romin. He couldn’t be seriously asking me that, could he?

“Come now, beautiful Fall. Let us walk you back. It will be an honor,” said Tristian, and shivers broke all over my back.

“I’m sure you know what they plan to do, even if you don’t want to admit it to yourself,” I told Romin.

“My brothers would never hurt you. They?—”

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