Page 119 of Kingdoms of Night

For whatever reason, he was definitely curious. She wiped her palms on her vest and continued. “Right. I really wasn’t planning on any relationship. For now, I’ve got to get my life in order. I don’t know what I’m for or why I exist. Everything I thought I knew and that mattered suddenly doesn’t.”

He shook his head, his expression questioning.

Sighing, she picked at her cuticles. “It’s a long story.”

“Looks like a long road.” His expectant gaze didn’t waver.

She didn’t want to talk about it, but if he was so unrelenting, she’d turn it around on him. “Why don’t you tell me about you and what brings you here?”

“Annette.” One word. And he stared off into the distance, toward the castle.

“You like to be broody and mysterious, don’t you?” And damn it if those weren’t two traits she tended to like.

“I’m not broody. Or mysterious. I just...don’t have much to say.”

“I don’t believe that. Not for a minute.” Just in the short time they’d been together, he’d said plenty, even if the vast majority of it hadn’t been in words.

“I don’t have much to say that would interest you.”

“I don’t believe that either. You’re a werewolf from a world I’ve never heard of. How could you not have something to say that would interest me?”

“I...” He stopped short and scowled at her playfully. “No. I asked about you first.”

She folded her arms over her chest and smirked at him. “Well, maybe I’m broody and mysterious, too.”

His playful scowl deepened. He wasn’t going to let up.

“Then compromise with me. I’ll tell you something about me. You tell me something about you. It’ll pass the time.”

He sighed dramatically. “Fine, Idalno.”

Her pulse quickened. Something about the way he said her name... “All right,” she said softly.

“You first.”

“So I am an Acolyte of Venom and Poison, and I wanted to be a Master of Venom and Poison. It’s incredibly important and powerful. But my cousin Selnon is the one who was chosen because as it turns out, it isn’t a position you apply for or can work toward. You are chosen and forced into it. Even if you don’t want it.

“And I was so certain I could be the best at it that I spent my whole life preparing for it. Ever since I was a little girl. And he barely did anything except try to get away from it. Neither of us are happy about how it turned out, but he at least gets the power and the opportunity. And as for me, well—I guess I find Lalko and then I figure out something else.” She bit off the last of the words as the heat grew within her. No need to pour out all the insanity. “Your turn.”

“I used to grow rye.” He glanced at her, his expression almost innocent. “Your turn.”

She glared at him. “You can’t just leave it at that.”

“Says who?” One side of his mouth quirked up, as if he was enjoying this.

“Says me.” She poked him in the shoulder.

“You said we would say one thing about ourselves. Then the other would say something. We did.” He nodded, sounding more pleased with himself. “I think I win this one.”

“Fine.”

“So. Your turn.”

“I love the colors blue and green equally, but sometimes pink is my favorite,” she said.

“I don’t have an opinion on any of those.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “I can’t sing.”

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