Anxiety built as I tightened my hold around my legs.
“It’s okay,” the male repeated, his lips curving up. The smile didn’t reach his eyes, though. It didn’t cause a—
Pain arced from temple to temple once more, forcing a stilted breath past my lips.
His golden eyes turned luminous as his nostrils flared, almost like he felt my pain.
The knocking continued.
And continued.
Then came a voice. “I know you’re in there.”
My gaze shot to the door. There was something familiar about the feminine voice.
“And I’m going to keep knocking until you answer,” she promised. “I have all day.”
“Fucking gods,” the male muttered under his breath, briefly closing his eyes.
“I have all night if it comes to that,” she tacked on.
A muscle flexed in his jaw just as the hot taste of anger filled the back of my throat. “I’ll handle this.” He rocked forward—
I locked up, fingers going numb from how tightly I was clutching my knees. I no longer felt the soft material of the robe beneath them.
He halted, his eyes closing once more as he swore again. “I’m sorry.”
I didn’t know what he apologized for.
I watched as he stood slowly. My gaze tracked over the taut muscles of his back as his long legs ate up the short distance between him and the door.
Gripping the handle, his shoulders rose with a deep breath I thought he took to calm himself, but it didn’t seem to work. He cracked open the door. “Tawny.”
That…name…
“Hawke,” she replied, mimicking his bland, dry tone. For some reason, my lips tipped up. “Oh, I’m sorry. I mean…Casteel,” she continued as a sharp ache pierced the area behind my eyes. I breathed through it and squeezed my legs until my arms felt like they’d snap. “Or should it be Your Highness? Or do you prefer Your Excellency of Many Names? How about Your Majesty—?”
“Cute,” the male interrupted.
“Thank you.”
His sigh could’ve shaken the walls. I wouldn’t have been surprised in the least if it had. He tilted his head. “And where were you?”
“Sorry,” came a muffled voice that sounded farther away. “I had to take care of, you know, basic bodily functions.”
“Of course,” the male muttered, refocusing on the one before him. “What can I do for you, Tawny?”
“I want to see Poppy.”
I straightened.
“She’s not here,” the male replied.
“Bullshit,” she snapped. “I know she’s in there.”
“And why do you think that?”
“Because you wouldn’t be here if she wasn’t,” she said. I wanted to smile at that. “But what Idon’tknow is why you have her in a—”
