Page 76 of Dance of Deception

Her eyes snap to mine. Her lips part, as if to ask all the questions I’m sure she’s had ever since that night. She hesitates a second, but finally she speaks.

“What was that place?” she says quietly. “Whatisthe Black Court?”

I smile. “Nothing you need to worry about, little dancer.” Her breath hitches as I reach up with my other hand, brushing a lock of gingery red away from her face as my eyes capture hers.

“You haven’t done it yet.”

Her brow furrows slightly. “Done what?”

“Diagnosed me.”

She shifts uncomfortably in my lap again. “I… I don’t want to.”

“You’re not going to offend me, little dancer,” I growl. “Do it.”

I grip her jaw, tilting her face to mine, forcing her to see me.

“Say it,” I murmur.

Her hands press against my chest, not quite pushing, but like she’s fighting the weight of the truth.

“I—”

“Say it, Lyra.”

She licks her lips, her voice trembling.

“You… You don’t feel things like other people do.”

I smile. “Such as.”

She starts to look away, but I grab her jaw, forcing her gaze back to me.

“Don’t tap out yet. Keep going. What makes you think that?”

“The other night…” she trails off, and her gaze drops.

“Go. On…”

“You just…” She swallows. “You justkilled that man,” she whispers, a tremor rippling through her body.

“I already told you, he deserved it. Surely you of all people are familiar with the concept of bad people getting their comeuppances.”

Her eyes snap to mine, fire blazing behind them at my obvious low blow. But she reels it back, dropping her gaze again.

“You think I didn’t feel what I should have when I killed him?”

I tilt her chin up, forcing her gaze back to me.

“Did you?” she asks quietly.

“No.”

She trembles in my lap.

My dick gets a little harder when she does.

“I’d like that diagnosis now, doctor,” I growl quietly with an icy smile on my face.

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