Page 71 of A War of Embers

Instead of responding, I place the documents down and step away from the table. “You’re supposed to be coming back tomorrow.”

“How did you get in here?”

“Why are you back early?” I volley. Clearly neither of us is going to answer the other’s questions.

The corner of his mouth lifts in a quiet snarl. “You’re in my personal space. The estate knows not to allow anyone in here.”

I’m pretty sure Alyvia told me it wouldn’t allow anyone who meant him harm to come in here. Gesturing to the side of my face, I scoff. “You mean when you marked me and now everyone thinks they have to treat me with kit gloves because of what this means?” I step towards him. “Well, you’ve had your fun. Now release me from it.”

Rowan’s gaze tracks to the left, where the snake resides on my face. “No.”

No? “What do you mean, no?” I practically spit the words out. “Rowan, this isn’t funny. People are acting weird. I need you to remove it.”

His green eyes darken dramatically, the air in the room cooling in temperature. “What kind of weird? The kind where Gabriel Shore failed to remove a soul, sought out a guard who came to me with his tale of a woman with dark hair and my mark on her face demanding he kill her? Or are you talking about Jared, Alyvia’s ex, who was found going mad in his yard a few hours later ranting about Alyvia and you using him as a scapegoat for your plan?” Rowan steadily walks towards me, fury etched across his face. “Is that the type of weird you’re referring to?”

Now seems like a bad time to point out this wouldn’t have been done if he would have helped me earlier. “No, that’s not what’s weird. You kissing me in front of your entire estate is weird. People are gossiping. They want to know what’s going on. The fact I wear your mark only confuses people more.”

“I’m allowed to fuck and kiss whomever I want.”

An unpleasant twisting sensation appears in my gut. “Obviously, you’re not tied to anybody.” The words feel wooden as I speak them. How did we get here? In this conversation about his ability to do whatever he wants with whoever he sees fit? I don’t want to talk about this. I want to pretend the feelings he’s drawing out of me aren’t happening. Before I can dredge the subject back to a less irritating topic, Rowan speaks.

“I’m tied to you.” He takes another advancing step further. For some reason instinct kicks in and I take a few back.

“Well, untie yourself to me. You clearly don’t want to be. I don’t know why you did this to begin with.” Hell, I don’t even know what this is. He never quite explained it and from the reactions of the people here in this realm, it’s a big ass deal he failed to include me in. Squinting but maintaining my distance, I ask, “Was it your monster? Did it do this without your knowledge or agreement?” If so, we were totally fucked.

Rowan snorts and takes another step forward. “The monster in me and myself are one in the same. We share a soul. We communicate our wants and desires in the same manner. He marked you while I was inside of you, but I didn’t negate his claim.”

“His claim on what?”

“You.”

Nope. None of this makes any sense. “Why would your monster want to claim me, Rowan? You’re supposed to be helping try to kill me, not keep me magically chained to you.”

“Is that really what you want after spending time in my world? You still crave the feel of death’s breath on your skin? You haven’t had even the slightest waver in your desire to die?”

What exactly is he asking me? Did he expect the sudden rush of emotions inside of me to change my mind? Or did he think because I sucked his cock I would somehow agree to be linked to him?

“Well, little monster?” His eyes flash black, eclipsing the green entirely. But he looks and sounds the same, even if his monster is now in control.

“There’s nothing here for me.”

“Nothing?” he taunts.

This game he’s playing with me is pissing me off. “You have no idea what you’ve done. I can touch someone’s soul. Did Jared tell you that? Did you know it would happen?”

“Did I know I would inadvertently make you a Lady by marking you? No, I had no idea. If you’re looking for an apology, you won’t be getting one.”

“I’m trying to die!” I yell at him. “Stop trying to save me!” My breathing is harsh, sawing through my lungs as they burn in my ire. Why isn’t he understanding me? “This isn’t fair.”

“Life isn’t. Did you think I picked you to fuck with you?” He snarls and slams his hand down on the table, rattling everything on it. “Did you think I wanted to mark you, Keres? Did you stop to think I’m as helpless in this situation as you are?”

He’s joking, right? “You’re supposed to be the most powerful Lord here. Don’t pretend you’re helpless in the wake of your monster’s actions.”

Slowly, a cruel smile crosses his lips. Transforming his face from thunderous outrage to a delighted villain. “I could reverse it. I’m not. Deal with it.”

Angry, I pick up some metal contraption closest to me from his desk and heave it at his head. The asshole has the audacity to duck.

“Having a tantrum over it isn’t going to change my mind.”

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