Page 32 of Savage Crown

I ignore it.

Instead, I push her tunic up, revealing the deep gash along her ribs.

She hisses at the contact but doesn’t pull away.

"You’re lucky it’s not worse," I mutter, pressing the cloth against the wound.

"Didn’t feel lucky," she grits out.

I smirk, but it doesn’t reach my eyes. "What happened?"

She exhales sharply. "Varash didn’t like being questioned."

Something cold slithers down my spine.

"He touched you?"

She snorts. "Does throwing me into a wall count?"

Rage.

A slow, simmering heat that shouldn’t be there.

I shouldn’t care.

I really shouldn’t.

But my fingers tighten around the cloth, pressing a little too hard.

She winces.

I ease off immediately.

Damn it.

I shouldn’t be angry.

I should be pleased.

She got the information I wanted. She proved herself.

But instead of satisfaction, all I feel is this.

This seething, restless thing curling in my ribs.

"You don’t go near him again," I say, voice lower than I mean it to be.

She exhales sharply. "Didn’t realize I had a choice."

I lift my eyes to hers.

"You do now."

A beat of silence.

Her fingers curl into fists against her lap. "Why does it matter to you?"

I don’t answer.

---