Page 99 of A Dawn Of Blood

I watch his eyebrows pull down, but I think it’s best if I just let him cool down a little. Maybe he’ll go back to bed or something, and I won’t be forced to deal with the whole situation while he’s vulnerable like this.

Chapter 70

Cain

Resisting the urge to follow, I watch her leave the Main Hall. The moment she does, the restlessness kicks in, as if the room I’m in is suddenly no longer the place I’m supposed to be.

It snaps me out of it, when the cat jumps into my lap. Distractedly, I start petting it, wondering if it was only a dream after all — my head in her lap and her fingers in my hair.

No, it wasn’t a dream, that’s for sure and certain, but still, everything about this night is odd. The way I feel. The way she left just now. The way time seems to be crawling.

I look over my shoulder, fixing my eyes on the archway. Shouldn’t she have come back by now?

It takes me a moment to register that the chatter has died down and that there are people staring at me. It’s with a sigh that I tear my eyes away from the archway, catching a few of them averting their gazes. Of course,Drydendoesn’t. “What?” I demand.

He squints at me. “How are you feeling, big shot?” he asks.

“On top of the world,” I drawl, “as long asyou’rehere with me.”

“I did have a feeling there was something between the two of us.”

I throw daggers at him then look over my shoulder again.

“Why don’t you grab a bite to eat?” I hear him ask.

“Mm,” I hum, not taking my eyes off the archway. How long can you take to go to the bloody bathroom?

My eyes widen when the possibility enters my mind. Has something happened? It’s not like the castle is completely secure.

“Hey, lover boy,” I hear MacArthur Junior call out.

Frowning, I turn to look at her.

There’s this annoyingly knowing smile on her face. “She’ll come back, you know, no need to get all worried.”

“Worried?You’re being ridiculous.”

“Sheis, really?” Dryden asks mockingly.

I lean forward, throwing him a menacing look. “Here’s a suggestion, why don’t you all stop talking to me, right this instant.”

“What if our curiosity just won’t let us?” he whispers, his tone more amused than anything.

“Then I suggest you kill the curiosity before the curiosity kills you.”

“Come on,” Raven cuts in, “leave him be, he’s still not okay.”

“Not okay?” I echo as I turn back to the exit. “I’ve never been better,” I mutter.

It’s at that exact moment I see her walk back in, the sight of her making my heart soar. As she approaches, her gaze darts to the cat in my lap.

Smiling, she takes her seat next to me.

The moment she does, I shoo the cat away and turn to look at her, happy to see I haven’t imagined it all.

“What’reyousmiling about,” I ask as I get as close as I can without throwing myself all over her.

To my surprise, the smile slides off her face, something indecipherable flashing through her eyes.

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