Page 166 of The Sins of Silas

As I began to look away, she squeezed my knee. “My assumptions of you were not bad ones, Merrick,” she said softly.

I willed myself to ignore what the feeling of her hand on my knee was giving me, and before I imploded, she slipped her hand back to her lap. Her voice went a little high as she asked, “Where’s Viola?”

I narrowed my eyes as I read her, sipping on the remainder of my gimlet.

Jealousy.

I choked on my drink and willed my magic down. Era raised a brow, and I nervously drummed my fingers along my knee, which was missing her touch. “Sleeping. All that shifting took a lot out of her. I imagine she’ll be sleeping into the late afternoon.”

Era wouldn’t meet my eyes. “What did you mean when you said, ‘I can’t’?”

I frowned, my lips pulling to the side as I studied her blank stare at the bar top.

“I don’t know.”

Her head turned toward me, a little wrinkle now between her brows. “Don’t lie.”

“What, are you an Empath? Can you tell?”

“Answer me.”

“Why did you get jealous mentioning Viola?”

Her eyes widened. She let out an incredulous laugh. “I did no such thing!”

I let my eyes go dark again, a smirk overcoming my face. “You did, Princess. I felt it.”

Her eyes narrowed, and she puckered her lips, her eyes now on her empty glass, her index finger tracing the rim.

“Why did you kiss me?” she asked, her voice just above a whisper.

My heart rumbled in my chest, my nerves overtaking me, finally addressing the elephant in the room. “For the same reason you kissed me back.”

She swallowed, and her eyes trailed to my mouth, then back up to my eyes. “I’m married.”

“I am aware.”

"Then why did you kiss me?" she pressed, her brows lowering.

My eyes shifted as they bounced between hers, feeling the anger, the guilt, and the confusion that wrecked her.

I dragged my tongue against my lip ring. “Desire overcame me,” I admitted. “I felt like I had no choice.”

Excitement brewed in her chest, quickly snuffed out by the overwhelming guilt she felt. “There's always a choice,” she whispered, scooting back and standing from her stool. “I should probably head to bed.”

I blinked at her sudden withdrawal. “I’ll walk you.” I quickly offered, my stool squeaking as I stood.

“No, Merrick.” She shook her head. “I…I need space.”

I went to touch her arm when I was roughly shoved back. “Witch scum! The lady said no!” The drunk human who pushed me yelled. “You’ll all be enslaved again one day, filth that you are.”

Voices around him mused their agreement. “I bet we can take him,” a drunken voice slurred.

The man who pushed me did so again. “I’ll hang this ugly bastard by the hooks in his face."

Instantly, Era rushed forward, shoving the man who touched me. “You shut your FUCKING MOUTH!”

Her anger took me aback. Quickly, I squeezed past the angry drunk and placed my hand on the small of her back. “They aren’t worth it,” I insisted, pushing her toward the exit. “Come, let’s go.”

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