Page 80 of The Devil's Thorn
Not about her being dangerous. He’s right about that.
But about this being a mistake?
That’s what he doesn’t understand yet.
I didn’t spare her because I’m intrigued. I spared her because the smartest predators don’t kill on impulse. Theywatch.Theywait.
And when they strike—they do it in a way no one survives.
The door opens again. Harder this time. Nikolai walks back in with the same scowl across his face.
No words at first.
He just strides over, grabs the glass from my hand, and downs what’s left of my drink like it washis.
I arch an eyebrow.
He wipes his mouth, exhales through his nose, then mutters?—
“I’m too irritated to go pretend I care about the rest of tonight.”
I smirk. “Didn’t know you cared about anything at all.”
He ignores that. Leans forward against the edge of the bar and stares out the window like the skyline might talk back.
“She’s not like the others.”
His voice is quieter now. Not soft. Just… heavy.
He doesn’t look at me when he says it.
“I’ve never seen a woman like her.”
I stay quiet.
Because I know there’s more.
“She doesn’t panic. Doesn’t hesitate. Doesn’t defer. Even when you had a gun to her head, she didn’t beg. She didn’t even blink.”
“She’s too much like you.”
That last part sounds like it cost him something to say.
I let that sit for a moment. Then I lean against the bar, arms folded.
“She didn’t flinch when she got cut,” I say. “Didn’t even touch the wound.”
Nikolai’s jaw ticks.
“Because she’s felt worse.”
He finally turns to face me fully.
“And that’s what makes her dangerous. She doesn’t react like someone trying to survive.”
“She reacts like someone used to fighting alone.”
That lands.
