Page 57 of Death Game: Supernatural Battle

“I’m listening.” I folded my arms, shivering slightly.

Grabbing a deep-fried money bag, he held it against my lips. “I’ll eat if you do.”

I inhaled, eyes wide on his. Opening my lips, I took a bite of the minced pork parcel. He ate the rest, grabbing another.

“Stop trying to hand feed me,” I complained.

Kyros held another to my lips.

When I sighed and opened my mouth, he snatched it away, shoving the whole thing in his mouth.

“Very funny.” I whacked him, leaning forward for some of the coconut soup. I shivered again as the hot sweetness trickled down my throat.

He draped an arm across my shoulders. “You’re still cold.”

“Hmm? Yeah. The blood loss, I think. I get it for a bit after each exchange too.”

His brows furrowed at that.

“I didn’t say that to make you feel bad. It’s just fact.”

Kyros tightened his hold, his warmth seeping into my body. I shuffled closer, trying not to spill my soup.

“Why is it that the more time we spend together, the more uncomfortable you feel?” Kyros asked, staring at the fire.

I tensed, swallowing hard. Fear surged within me. He couldn’t discover the truth yet. I hadn’t figured everything out.

“Fear,” he stated. “Guilt.”

Closing my eyes, I rested the bowl on my lap.

“Longing,” he whispered. “I can’t understand it. You fear the bond between us. You feel guilty about it. Yet you want me. Sometimes, your behaviour and actions suggest you feel as strongly as I do. Other times, you’re impossible to reach as though you’re locking yourself away.”

He drew my face toward his. “Why do you deny yourself? Why do you denyme? I’m trying to understand. To be patient. But the distance between us in those times, like now, drives me mad.”

Opening my eyes, I met his intent green gaze.

“I—”

“No lies,” he said harshly.

I pressed my lips together and tried to break free of his grip. He let me go, watching as I established fresh distance between us.

“Answer me one thing then,” Kyros said.

“Depends what it is.”

Anger flashed in his eyes. Or hurt. Both?

He tucked the anger away before asking. “Why do you want the fifth exchange if you don’t always want me? Or if something about me, my situation, or my family makes you doubt the future we could have?”

I set the bowl on the table, appetite gone. “You’ve heard what I think aboutIngenium.”

“I can’t promise there won’t be games if Fyrlia wins.”

My breath hitched. “It’s happening then?”

Jaw clenching, Kyros glanced away. “Yes. We believe our human liaison at the council, Julia Dinh, is not as fully in our control as we previously thought.”

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