Page 24 of Obsidian and Frost
“If you’re going to threaten someone, reserve it for dark corners of the campus, out of the way—and earshot—of everybody else. Otherwise you risk implicating yourself.”
I glared out at him. “Don’t worry yourself about my business.”
As if I hadn’t even spoken, he went on. “Another piece of advice? Threats shouldn’t be your first move. There is much that can be done to guide people’s behavior to your liking without the need for such excessive aggression.”
“What do you even know about it? I thought you were with Velra on what that vicious thing did to her. Yet, there you were talking with the enemy.”
“There are better ways to handle things than outright hostility and heavy-handedness.”
“Flirting your way through it?”
“Aww, how precious. You considered that flirting. Believe me, you’d know if I was flirting.” He shifted, his thigh brushing against mine, making me jolt. “I’m not subtle about it,wolfie.”
I moved to the side so he was no longer up against me like that. “Are we done here?” I demanded, finding it difficult to maintain aggressive eye contact. That… thigh thing had thrown me off or something. I didn’t falter. And I didn’t fucking defer to anyone. Breaking eye contact was not an option. Others looked away fromme.
Before I could dig into my food again, not only didn’t he get up and leave, but he brushed his fingers over mine, my hand that wasn’t holding one of my steaks, currently clutching the table in a death grip.
His fingers rubbed over my thick titanium ring with the fierce skull on the face that encircled my middle finger, and the markings etched into it.
Graverun. Ten Rounds.
Graverun was the underground fight ring hidden beneath Wraeven where students like me worked out our frustrations or just let loose, and kicked ass and took names. To be granted the honor of receiving a ring, you had to win ten fights in a row.
“This is quite the accomplishment. Especially when you’re even up against magic-wielders.”
I went to pull my hand away but he held fast.
“The renowned Halfblood Hound. King of Graverun.”
“That’s me,” I ground out. “Something you’d do well to pay attention to.”
“Why? Are you threatened by me, Lazriel?”
Fuck.My name spilled from his lips like a sensual promise.
What was happening?
I violently jerked my hand free. “If you came here to say something, fucking say it, or leave me in peace to eat my meal and go back to your damned oatmeal.”
He showed no sign of pain, even though I could see the chafe on his skin from the way I’d pulled away so brutally.
He didn’t even flinch or fucking blink.
He just smiled.
“Tell me about the girl.”
“What?”
“YourWraithqueen.”
How did he know about that?
“You mean, yourDark Beauty?”I bit back, a growl escaping me.
“Is she not that? Beyond merely her appearance, she is beauty within also, yes?”
Of course she was.
