Page 156 of House of Lilith

And my eyes automatically dart to Dahrian, but he’s not throwing a single glance in my direction, or any direction at all, still staring ahead with that somber look on his face.

But just as I’m about to look away, his gaze flits to the door behind me and I see him grit his teeth.

My nose tells me it’s Max even before I see him walk past me in his most official manner.

And he goes straight for the door into the Pied Piper’s office, gives it a light knock and gets invited in, just like that. Of course.

“Hey,” that Grimm yells out as he gets out of his chair again, the girl next to him grabbing his wrist to pull him back down. “What the hell is he doing?” he asks as he turns to her.

I see the assistant poke her head through the door, saying, “I’m sorry. Only the prince for now.”

I hear shifting and my eyes dart back to Dahrian, who’s not leaning against the wall anymore. He’s standing with his arms flung to his sides, looking menacing as fuck.

Still, he just keeps standing there.

A couple of minutes of almost total silence and I hear the door open again.

“Thank you,” Max says as he walks out. “And yes, I’ll get right on it.”

And as he moves to leave the room, he throws a glance at Dahrian, smirking, and I see Dahrian grit his teeth.

For a moment, I think he’ll lunge, but the next, he’s back to leaning against the wall, staring ahead.

Max keeps walking and smirking, only throwing me a glance in passing, but coupled with the tip of his head to the door, it lets me know he thinks it’s time for that little chat, as he said earlier.

And the very thought of it makes my fucking stomach twist and I do hesitate for a couple of long moments.

But it seems like an overall idiotic idea, to not even try to find out what he wants from me.

So I get up and I do try not to attract too much attention, but of course it’sthistime that that fucking Howe looks in my direction.

This funny, angry little squint, he throws me, as I fight not to run the fuck out of the room.

*

I find Max waiting for me outside the Tower.

To my surprise, he’s no longer smirking. In fact, the look in his eyes is downright soft. And as soon as I come to a stop in front of him, it’s in a gentle voice that he says, “Your brother will be fine.”

“I know, I’ve made sure of it,” I snap. “What do you want?”

“Just to talk about what happened.”

And he motions at the path leading to one of the little groves with a bench inside.

“What’s it to you?” I ask, not trying at all to make my voice less harsh as I force myself to fall into step with him. “We’re not together anymore.”

“I care about you, cupcake,” he says simply. “And I know this is not you.”

I can’t believe that he’d use the nickname once again, but that’s not what really bothers me. “This is not me?” I snap. “What the hell are you even talking about?”

He raises his eyebrows at me. “Getting involved with a guy like that?” He clicks his tongue. “Come on, you used to have principles, ambition, good taste...”

Guy like that? “Let’s make one thing clear,” I drawl as I keep walking after him. “It’s notyourfucking business, whoIchoose to fuck.”

He turns to look at me. “Fuck?” He stops just as we reach the little grove, making me follow suit.

“Anastasya…” And his face turns serious as he says, slowly as if to a half-wit, “I just found you gettingrailed. In somefilthy classroom.Minutesbefore the Game.”

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