Page 35 of Betrayed in the Dark
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lisa enter the room. Without breaking my gaze from Madeleine, I say, “Do you mind giving us a moment? We have some things to discuss.”
“Ah…umm,” Lisa stutters. “Of course, sir. I’ll go look for more matching accessories!”
Poor Lisa scurries out of the room, leaving just the two of us. Forgetting all reason, I grab her uninjured hand and haul her into the closest dressing room, locking the door behind us.
She tugs her hand out from mine, quickly crossing her arms over her chest as her face mirrors disbelief. “What in the hell do you think—”
“What the fuck has your knickers in a twist?” There’s an edge of authority in my voice, one she doesn’t miss as she juts out her chin in defiance.
Her lips tighten. “You can’t speak to me that way.”
“I can speak to you however bloody well I please. Especially when you insist on being a royal twat.”
A gasp escapes her lips. “You did not just call me that.”
I give a slight shrug. “Seems fitting.”
Her hands clench into fists at her side. “Jesus Christ, Eli. Just do your job and let me out of here.”
I stand tall, crossing my arms over my chest. “Not until you tell me what the fuck is going on. You’ve been even more distant than usual these past couple of days, giving me the damn silent treatment like a child as you hide away in your room with your pints of ice cream to cure whatever the hell is going on inside your head. And now we’re here, shopping for twenty-five goddamn winter coats. So tell me, what the fuck is going on?”
“Nothing is going on.”
“Madeleine.
“Eli.”
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing that concerns you.”
“So, there is something.”
“No. Nothing! Just let me out of here.”
“No can do. Not until—”
“Cressida!” she shouts in exasperation, her hands flying up toward the ceiling. Silence descends upon us as her eyes suddenly widen with regret. “Shit,” she says softly, her eyes pinching shut as her arms drop to her sides.
My brows knit together. “What about Cressida? Is she bothering you?”
She shakes her head, raking her fingers through her hair, her eyes looking anywhere but at me. “Forget I said her name.”
Why the fuck would she be upset about Cressida—Oh.
I can’t help it.
One corner of my lip lifts, warmth filling my cold, beating heart.
She actually thinks I would be interested in Cressida? I had only been staring at her at the party because I noticed an uncanny resemblance to Alastor, finally putting two and two together. And sure, I chatted the girl up when she came over to talk to me to be polite, but apparently, Madeleine must think there’s more to it than that.
I mean, Cressida seemed nice enough, sure.
But there’s one problem.
She’s notmyMadeleine.
I lean down to her eye level, waiting for her to meet my gaze. The moment she does, I ask, “Are you jealous, Princess?”
