“Grim’s a god then?”
Aidan resumed his original position on the stool, this time hooking one foot on a rung and drumming his fingers on the counter.
“Correct,” he answered distractedly. His bright blue eyes came back into sharp focus. “Bellia first. To the Bone Temple of Ryspur. You should leave as soon as possible.”
False cheer lifted her voice. “Oh my gods, what a great idea. You know what I like best about it? The part where you included me in approximately zero of the decision-making process, barked marching orders at me, and still haven’t explained what you’re lying about.”
Aidan brought his hands together and leaned on his forearms. “That was hardly an order.”
“Sounded like one to me.”
“Then where doyouthink you should go first? Never mind that it’s traditional for you to visit the temple and be initiated, and tonotdo so would be a slap to the women and people who helped guide you home.” Dry amusement lifted his brows.
Elysia awkwardly paused.What?“I—I didn’t know that. Andthis isn’t home,” she muttered, hating that she kept running her mouth instead of just asking. She was on edge, still cranky about the marks and questionable guilt he didn’t seem keen to give her an answer about.
The hollows of Aidan’s face deepened. “Again, please ask if you would like to know something. I would have explained if you’d given me five seconds instead of assuming the worst.”
Unsure if he deserved her apology, she shrugged. “Habit.” For better or for worse, she was primed to attack at the first sign of being pushed around. It was unsurprising, really, given her history of being lied to and taken advantage of by every single man in her life.
Aidan’s gaze heated, his voice dropping lower until it rumbled, drawing her in far too easily with its rich sound. “Trust me, you’ll know if I’m giving you an order.”
That should be illegal.She unthinkingly clutched the counter as her body betrayed her with a heady slap of desire. Glaring, she dug in her heels. “I need to go to Kava. I have a few things to attend to before I go traipsing about the realms for your trinket.”
Dark humor crept into Aidan’s tone, and yet it sounded like a warning. “Is that so? You think it’s wise to return to the city of your near-execution so soon after?”
“There are things I need to do that are none of your business,” she shot back.
A fog of dark soot-stained magic crawled to her, lifting her chin, and forcing her gaze to his. The blue embers of heat in his eyes dashed out to ice as he promised her, “There isnothingfor you in Kava anymore.”
His deathly tone swept through her, emptying her brain of every single decent thought. Looking away, she gathered up the wickedness inside her. She’d had endless practice with a mouthy prince after all. Rolling her words into a purr, she played with a god. “But there issomeone.”
The fog disappeared in an instant. Aidan’s brows rose as if he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Marked disbelief filled hiswords. “What we are doing is more important than some boy who was never capable of loving you.”
“Who says I can’t do both?” She smiled flippantly, irritated at his response. She’d meant to provoke and instead he’d delivered a hit to both her heart and pride. Gods, couldn’t she even piss a man off properly anymore?
Aidan paused, visibly slowing himself down and speaking carefully. His voice was strained. “While I am aware you said that to spite me—I hope you know you are worth infinitely more than what that undeveloped cretin has shown you. Regardless of how disappointing your desires are—I obviously won’t force you to go to the temple or stop you from seeing him.” His fingers tapped against his opposite arm, but his mouth was shut tight, refraining from saying anything else.
Her stomach dropped, twisting as it went. People in her world didn’t talk like this. Pushing off the counter, her voice went rough. “Don’t you dare condescend to me about love or self-worth or who Idesire. You wrecked your realm and my kingdom, remember?”
She stalked over to where he sat like a statue on his stool. Her thumb brushed over his cheek, fingers holding tight onto his jaw in a mimicry of his shadows. “You made aterribledeal with amonsterand now you needme.”
Aidan tried to speak, but her voice sharpened, its goal evisceration and distance. “You’re a hypocrite. You mock the love I had for Topp, but there’s no threat of noose or sword here, and yet I imagine you’ll do the same as him. Lie, omit,betray.”
Aidan calmly shoved off the stool, crowding right back into her space. Body warm against hers, his hands settled on her hips, his words a growl. “I may have learned to communicate, but I spent my mortal life settling things the hard way with men far scarier than a little princess like you. I may talk sweet in your ear and ask all the right questions, but donotmistake that for weakness.”
Her fingers slid to his, but he clamped down harder on her hips.
“Ask me. Ask me about what you learned as you drank from my waters. Ask me anything and I’ll tell you, so long as the fates allow.”
Elysia’s defiance trickled away, leaving her uncertain. Turning her face from his, she found herself pressed against his neck, the scent of his skin drowning her senses.
“You’re guilty,” she whispered like a dagger. “And I’m going to find out why.”
She made to move, but Aidan held her there, his laugh a low rasp. “I’ll warn you now. I’ve been riddled with guilt for years—a little more won’t kill me if it means I get to keep you. But since you can’t bring yourself to ask, I’ll let you find out what you don’t know from the priestesses.”
Once again, she strained, trying to leave. His fingers dug in as her breath hitched. “Call me every name in the book, throw my mistakes in my face, but donotcompare me to that pathetic creature again.”
She slipped out of his hold, annoyingly aware of her flushed cheeks, readjusted her clothing and put much needed space between them. “How do you know about me and him, anyway?”
