I didn’t want his help, or his stupid mug of whatever.
The memory of a frigid, icy dark lake haunted my thoughts. The mental pain from the endeavor persisted.
Augustus straightened up taller under my scrutiny, silver crown gleaming. “I will leave—after you’ve drunk this and taken your medicine.” Black eyes narrowed.
I stared down at the water and avoided his monstrous gaze.
His footsteps echoed softly.
They stopped inches away; he was close enough that I could smell electricity and musk.
He fell to his knees beside the tub.
“Tip your head back—Alexis,” he said. “Don’t make me ask again.”
I wanted to grab the cup from his hand and throw it in his face. But I’d never been great at conflict.
Tilting my head, I stared down at the soapy water as he gently pressed the steaming mug to my lips. It tasted earthy and a little sweet.
“Good job, my carus,” he said as I took a big gulp.
I choked at the Latin endearment.
A strange heat warmed my stomach. “Don’t c-call me that,” I whispered, voice tremulous. “I’m notyouranything—you don’t even know me.”
“Are you sure about that?” he asked slowly, voice smooth and dangerous. “Nota res mala, optima.”
An evil thing known is best.
His hand spanned the back of my skull as he cradled my head and tipped the mug back. Heart pounding painfully in my chest, I drank quickly, disturbingly aware of the fingers pressing against my scalp.
When I’d taken the medicine and drained the mug, I bolstered my courage and asked, “Which one of us is the evil thing?”
He laughed, a dark silky sound.
“Go to sleep. I’ll watch over and protect you,” he said. “I’m not going anywhere.”
It sounded like a threat.
My lids felt impossibly heavy, and I closed my eyes.
He never answered the question.
That was the last thought I had.
Chapter 25
Bonding with Protectors
Alexis:Late December
We waited in frigid silence for the next class to begin.
Time passed strangely in the mountain. The days went by with painful slowness, but the months blinked by.
It was already late December.
I shivered harder.
