It’s the weight of my impending death.
The endearment coming from Rorrik’s lips reminds me of the time I watched my mother’s cat gently lick a trapped mouse … right before she sunk her teeth into its neck.
But it’s the wordspyingthat almost makes me lose control of my bladder. I know what happens to spies here. I know what Rorrik does to them.
I force my eyes open. “I w-wasn’t spying.”
He gives me an enigmatic smile as he releases me. A lock of black hair slips over his forehead, and when he touches a tongue to one pointed fang, my heart somehow beats even faster.
“See you soon, little rabbit.”
He turns and disappears down the dim corridor, likely slipping into one of the secret tunnels. My head spins and I slump against the wall.
“What are you doing?”
I jolt, practically jumping out of my skin. Tiernon stands at the end of the corridor, hands on his hips. He’s not wearing his helmet. I suppose now that I know who he is, he doesn’t feel the need to hide his face. Lingering terror is replaced by fury and I peel myself off the wall.
“Nothing.”
He curls his lip at me. “Then why do you stink of fear?”
Something about being scared out of my mind, anticipating Rorrik ripping out my throat … and the sheer relief that I’m still alive … it makes me reckless. Volatile.
I give Tiernon a nasty smile. “You made it clear that we are nothing to each other. So you’re not entitled to answers from me. You’re not entitled to anything.”
His gaze studies my face. If I thought I’d find hurt in those bright blue eyes, I’m delusional. He merely stares at me as if I’m wasting his time. I move to leave, but Tiernon catches my wrist.
“Did you fuck Carrick after I left?”
The question is like a blow, and I jerk back, but his hand tightens around my wrist.
All the questions he should be asking, and he’s focusing on Carrick?
Territorial bastard.
“Your vampire blood is showing.”
“Answer me.”
Fury blazes through me, incinerating all logic and good sense. “I fucked plenty of men. Too many to count.”
His lips twitch, but something I don’t understand flickers across his face. Something that burrows between my ribs and stays there.
“I know you,” he replies, and my stomach twists uncomfortably. “And that’s not your style. You choose your lovers carefully. Each time you fucked someone who wasn’t me? It meant something. It mattered. And that makes it a thousand times worse.”
“Youleftme,” I hiss.
When he doesn’t say anything, I yank my arm from his hold. I loathe the fact that I’m only free because he chose to let me go.
“I have to get ready for training.”
“Don’t bother.” His eyes are flat, and he’s looking at me as if I’m a stranger once more.
I prefer it this way.
“What do you mean?”
He’s already grabbing his helmet and walking away. “The emperor has decided you’ll all join him at the arena,” he tosses over his shoulder. “Training is canceled.”
