“I think you’ve had enough,” he stated.
I hadn’t drunk nearly enough, considering I was still sober. “Ithink you can go fuck yourself.”
Kieran’s lips twisted into a thin smile. “And I think Poppy would be very disappointed in you if she heard the shit you’ve been saying.”
I stilled.
“What?” Kieran stepped forward. “You don’t want to hear that? Just like you don’t want to face the truth about why sheasked me to put her in the ground? Why she wouldn’t put that on you?”
I was in front of him in less than a heartbeat, toe-to-toe. “I’m not talking to you about this.”
“Of course, you aren’t. Because that would require you to pull your head out of your ass and acknowledge that you’re weak.”
“Fuck,” whispered Delano.
Eather hummed as I locked gazes with Kieran. “What the fuck did you just say?”
“They heard me,” he retorted. “So I know you did. But I can repeat it for you. You’re fucking weak when it comes to—”
I grabbed the collar of his tunic. “You want to rethink what you’re about to say.”
Kieran laughed, the sound short and harsh. Delano stood. “Yet again, you’re asking someoneelseto think when you won’t.”
A tremor ran through my arm, and I felt the eather pressing at my skin. My fist tightened around his tunic.
“I told you last time,” Kieran said while Hisa descended the wider steps at the Hall’s entrance. “You want to do this? Let’s do it.”
The corners of my vision turned a deep gray.
“I’ll let you have the first punch.” Kieran leaned in. “Come on, Cas. That’s what you want to do.”
I wanted nothing more than to lay hands on him.
“No.” My father held up his hand, stopping Delano and Hisa as they moved closer to us. “Let them fight it out.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Hisa said.
“It won’t be the first time,” my father responded. “And it will be much more interesting than listening to my son insult those who care about him.”
Kieran didn’t blink as he held my stare. Another tremor ran through my arm.
I shoved him back. Not as hard as I could have. He only moved a few feet. “That’s the last chance I’m giving you.”
Kieran straightened and stretched his neck. I saw his flesh begin to thin, and he returned his stare to mine. “I was wrong.”
Crimson threaded the shadows, crowding my vision.
“She’s not your weakness.” His chest rose with a deep breath as he widened his stance. “You’re hers.”
Will you become the fatal flaw in her armor?
I snapped, crashing into Kieran and taking us to the floor. He took the brunt of the fall as I straddled him. Like he offered, he gave me the first hit. Didn’t raise a hand as my fist slammed into his jaw, knocking his head to the side.
Kieran spat blood, then faced me, lifting his head from the floor. “Did that make you feel better?”
No.
Absolutely fucking not.
