Everything about him is hard, from the thick lines of his jaw to his strong forehead. It’s as if any hint of softness has been ruthlessly stamped out.
I run my gaze over those sculpted cheekbones, that perfect, surprisingly elegant nose, and the lips that once pressed gentle kisses along the shell of my ear.
His hair is a couple of shades darker than my own honey brown. I used to run my fingers through that hair, gently scraping his scalp with my fingernails until he was practically purring.
Those lips …
They used to tip up at one side when he was amused. And a dimple would appear—
I can’t breathe.
Silence stretches between us, until I force myself to meet his eyes. They’re still the color of the darkest sapphires.
But where they used to blaze with life, they’re now cold.
So cold.
“Tiernon,” I whisper.
“Yes,” he says conversationally, as if he hasn’t just sucker punched me right in the gut. “Now why don’t you tell me what you’re doing here?”
CHAPTER TEN
Ilean over and close my eyes, instantly rejecting this new, unwelcome reality.
Tiernon has the gall to sigh, placing his hand on my shoulder. I launch myself backward, landing on my ass.
He freezes, and Bran’s confidence in me suddenly makes sense.
He knows about my history with Tiernon. With thePrimus. And the Tiernon I knew would never hurt me. Maybe Bran figured I was his best chance to get beneath Tiernon’s guard and close to the emperor. And that’s why he made me swear not to warn the Primus.
Just days ago I vowed to find the Primus’s weakness.
Six years ago, Iwasthat weakness.
But Tiernon’s eyes meet mine, and I remember one cold fact: this isn’t the Tiernon I knew.
The Tiernon I knew wouldneverhave abandoned me.
My next breath comes out like a sob, and Tiernon’s expression tightens. “What are you doing here?” he asks again.
My eyes burn, but I won’t let him see me cry. “What areyoudoing here?” My voice rises hysterically.
Nothing. He crosses his arms, as if he has all the time in the world. I force my voice to steady. “You’re thePrimus.”
It’s not a question, but he nods. His eyes are still so cold, I can barely look at him. “You never wanted this. You wanted to be a healer,” he says. “So what are you doing here? How could Kassia let you—”
“Don’t you dare say her name!”
Shock flickers across his face. “Arvelle.”
“Kassia isdead,” I hiss.
Shock turns instantly to stunned grief. “How?”
“How?” I let out another hysterical laugh. When he says nothing, I take a step forward, getting intohisspace for once.
“She bled out next to me in the arena above us. I’m surprised you didn’t see it—after all, you must have been here somewhere.”
