Page 90 of Kingdom of Briars and Roses

I stared at him, surprised. “Why?” I blurted. “Why did you try for so long to break through?”

Especially when no one else did.

The look in his eyes turned anguished. “Because your scream was the last thing I heard that night. I couldn’t get the sound of it out of my head.”

“You were still there?” I asked. “When she… I thought you’d gone.”

“I was there. Just not close enough,” he said bitterly.

“But you remember,” I couldn’t help pressing. “You have a memory of the attack. And of…leaving?”

He looked at me like I’d lost it. I couldn’t blame him. “Of course.” I watched as suspicion overtook confusion. “Why shouldn’t I remember?”

“No reason,” I said quickly. “I only thought… the magic she used that night left me disoriented for a while.”

“Is that why you broke your engagement with Callan then hid away inside those walls for so long?”

So, we were back to baseless accusations then. “I did what I had to do to protect my family. What do you know about that kind of sacrifice?”

His laugh was harsh and humorless. “More than you could possibly comprehend.”

“I highly doubt that,” I tossed back.

His eyes narrowed to slits. He looked like he was about to unleash some tirade, but then, just as quickly, the fire winked out. “Happy reading, Furious.”

He moved to leave, and my own frustration bubbled up.

Using his own move from earlier, I grabbed his arm. My skin hummed at the contact, and when he rounded on me, lightning flashed in his eyes.

Instead of pulling away, he crowded in close.

I took a step back then another until he had me backed against the bookshelf. He leaned down until his face was a breath from mine.

“Careful, Furious,” he crooned. “If you put your hands on me, I expect you to make it count.”

His words conjured images of doing exactly that. Pushing onto my toes and kissing him. Sliding his tunic over his head. Running my hands over the hard planes of his torso?—

I blinked and refocused on the sight of his cocky smirk and challenging stare. He was baiting me. Calling my bluff.

I’d had enough.

Making a fist, I drove it into his ribs hard enough that he grunted.

“Does that count?” I asked sweetly.

Without waiting for an answer, I stalked off.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Aurelia

Callan came for me right after lunch as promised. I’d eaten in my room as I’d done every day since arriving. No one had invited me to dine elsewhere, and I wasn’t exactly antsy for another chance to share a meal with Duron, so I’d accepted the tray without complaint.

Vanya was carrying it out when Callan appeared.

“Afternoon,” he said with a smile that held no trace of the strain from yesterday. “How’d it go with the interviews?” he asked. “Did you find a suitable second maid?”

“I don’t see why I need two,” I said again.

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