Page 30 of Depths
Watkins looked like he wanted to shove me up against a wall and rut me as he strangled me.
Why was it that anyone else could look at me that way and I’d hate it? Why did his looking at me like that, like he wanted to break me into a thousand pieces, shatter me like a shipwreck … why was it sotempting?
Was it because somehow, I realized that he couldn’t break me any further than I already was? I was on death’s doorstep, the knocker had already fallen, all I was waiting on was a reaper to answer.
The tension built between us, breaths growing shallower, eyes locked without keys.
No. If it had been that, then I would have invited all the other rebels to stay, but I hadn’t.
There was another reason.
I just wasn’t sure what it was, which was bad, because my wall of ire had crumbled. I should have been livid at Watkins. I’d given him a chance, and he’d spit in my face. Competing in the tournament gave him the opportunity to have a serious conversation with me. But apparently, he wanted to squander that.
We held one another’s gaze. I watched Watkins swallow hard as his eyes slipped once again and roamed over my figure. I felt his hunger.
Felipe moved to push Watkins back, but I waved my guard off. If the shark shifter wanted to kill me, he’d had plenty of opportunity to wring my neck at the ball. But he’d chosen to stay. I swam even closer to the tall, muscular man, drifting up so that we were eye to eye. “I am going to send a quill, ink, and parchment to you. The quill will be a little bit bigger than what you’re used to gripping.” I enjoyed the angry flash of his eyes and the gnash of his teeth as I continued, “But I expect you to adjust to its girth and come up with a serious list of your demands of me so we can discuss them on our two-day ride.”
“Like you’re going to discuss anything with me,” he growled.
“I plan to discuss everything with you,” I replied softly.
“Liar. You’re just like her.”
It was as though he’d poured a bucket of ice over my head. “I should hope not.”
“If you aren’t yet, you will be. You stupid crown heads are all the same.”
“Are we?” I turned to Felipe and Sahar. “What would Mayi have done with this asshole?”
“Had him executed,” Sahar replied smoothly.
Meanwhile, Felipe simultaneously said, “Rammed a pool stick up his ass and set him up on the wall as an example for the others.”
The others. An evil bit of brilliance bloomed inside my head.
I turned back to Watkins. “What’s your favorite thing to eat?”
“For a last meal?” he asked.
“For our last meal here before we leave.”
He shook his head, refusing to answer.
Sahar volunteered, “Most shark shifters love squid.”
“Perfect. Squid for dinner then, Sahar.” I reached out and stroked Watkins’ arm. He didn’t move a muscle, but I felt how tense he was. He really truly thought that I was the enemy. “I’m going to have the cook make your favorite dinner, and then you’re going to write me a list. If you don’t”—I leaned closer—“I’m going to torture you. But not the way Mayi would have. I’m going to ensure that you get to experience the joys of unjustified hatred, just like you’re giving me. I’ll make all the others think you’re myfavorite contestant of all.”
“They won’t believe you,” he snarled.
I lifted a hand and traced his jaw. “Don’t be so sure.” He opened his mouth, but I slid my finger over it. I wanted to know what the rebels wanted. I wanted to know where they thought Mayi had wronged them. I needed someone with the backbone to tell me. And … I wanted to hear it from him. But if he wanted to stoop to an immature battle of wills before we got to negotiations, so be it.
I heard Sahar chuckle.
Felipe was quiet at my back, but I could feel his grin warming me like sunshine. Or perhaps that was my own mirth as I spotted a maid emerging from a door at the far end of the hall.
I tripled my volume and, in an obnoxiously girlish voice, said, “Watkins, a kiss already! You’re so naughty!”
If Watkins had looked like he wanted to kill me before, it was nothing in comparison to his new glower.
