Page 31 of The Night Runs Red

His eyes darkened, a muscle feathering in his jaw. “Who, pray tell, were you imagining, wife? Give me their name.”

“Why?”

He leaned in closer. “So I can kill them.”

Oh, gods. It shouldn’t have been sexy. His words should have scared me because I knew he wasn’t joking. But against my better judgment, I loved this possessive side of him. And that made me want to provoke him further. “I thought we could see other people. Weren’t those your words?”

Rion tilted his head. “And what if I want to renegotiate the terms of our relationship?”

I huffed. “I’m pretty sure we have to have a relationship first for terms to renegotiate…”

“We have a relationship.”

“No, we don’t,” I said, laughing. “And why would I want one with you when, quite frankly, you’ve been a dick from the moment I met you? We have nothing in common. We have no similar desires—”

“If we are talking about the desires that had you plunging your hand between those pretty thighs, I can confirm they are the same.”

I blushed, scowling up at him. “Stop it. Don’t say things like that.”

He frowned. “And why not?”

There was one thing I could do to shut him down. If we continued this conversation, he could sweet-talk me into anything he wanted. That was the last thing I needed, even if I knew it would be worth the frustration.

“Where’s Jasper?”

Rion’s eyes narrowed into slits, his body going rigid. “Why?” he asked coldly.

“Because I haven’t seen him since the attack. Consider me curious.” Absentmindedly, my finger traced the raised lines of my new scar. It’d been the wrong thing to do—Rion’s line of sight zeroed in on the slight movement.

He stepped closer, backing me into a tree. “Was it him?”

I couldn’t think with him this close. The faint hint of whiskey on his breath had me leaning in without a second thought. I wanted him to kiss me, get me drunk from his lips and tongue. “What?” I breathed. I couldn’t remember his question.

“Was. It. Him?”

I blinked, looking up at him through my lashes. “And what if it was?”

“If it was, then I am delighted to know he is being disciplined for not protecting you.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, apprehension making my skin crawl.

Rion placed his finger under my chin and tilted my head up. “Did you truly think there would be no punishment for his actions? He did not keep you safe. He bit you. You were kidnapped and then nearly died. I should have killed him. I have killed others for less.” He looked away, lips pursed and angry.

“Why do you care what happens to me?” I whispered, feeling foolish for the way my stupid heart fluttered at his words.

He was silent for a long time, locking us in a moment we didn’t know how to break. I wasn’t sure why I couldn’t get my question out. Initially, he’d acted cold and indifferent, wanting nothing to do with me. Now, he was ready to redefine our relationship and kill his best friend. “I wish I knew,” he said softly, meeting my gaze.

I nodded my head. It wasn’t much, but maybe it was enough to try and bridge the gap between us. “Alright. We’ll start there. But I have questions, and I need answers.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“Uh, where are we going?” I asked, gripping the railing tightly as I followed Rion down a small stone staircase beneath the mansion. When I’d told him I wanted answers, he asked me to follow him. I did so without question. I assumed he wouldn’t lure me into a cellar to kill me.

Now, I was having second thoughts.

“I am not going to kill you, Calia. You are more valuable to me alive than dead,” he said with a dark chuckle.

“Is that supposed to be reassuring?” If anything, it was creepy—the way he nearly read my mind. Gods. It would be mortifying to find out he’d been able to do that this entire time. But Rion didn’t answer and just continued his slow descent. “And have you ever thought of installing better lights? Because this isn’t—”

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