"You have more than enough battles to fight, little corruption," he told me. He shocked me by reaching up and tucking a flyaway strand of hazel hair behind my ear. He lingered for a moment, fingertips brushing the shell of my ear, and I swore I could hearmy own heartbeat in the tent around us. "You could share your burdens much more than you do."
"With you?" I asked, stunned.
His smirk faded to a sad smile.
"I'm a better listener than I appear," he vowed.
I blinked, taking a breath as my eyes met his once more and our breaths mingled in the air between us, our faces only inches apart.
"You're being nice to me," I accused. "I asked you not to do that."
"Tomorrow, we wage war on the gods," he said. "I'll yell at you then."
I snorted, unable to help myself, and the sound brought another smile to his lips, a genuine one. I'd never known before how many smiles one could have. Each one that graced Gryfon's face seemed unique in his own way, made his feelings so easy to know, almost as if I were feeling them myself.
"I can't stay in your tent," I breathed and his eyes snapped to mine, a cool fire igniting behind them, turning the ice to a blazing sapphire.
"Why not?" he asked.
I fought the urge to blush as I explained.
"Lauchlan told Kane about the way soldiers usually behave the night before a battle," I told him. "Kane told Zya and I. He thought we should be aware, as women in the camp, since the men now know what's coming tomorrow."
Gryfon's smile turned into an amused grin.
"Is that why you thought I was dragging you into my tent?" he asked, barking out a laugh I couldn't help but appreciate. It wasn't often the stoic general laughed. "To have you in my bed for the night?"
"No!" I spat. "I knew you weren't but we can't…it wouldlooklike—"
"You didn't fight much, little corruption," he drawled and there was a wicked gleam in his eye. The smirk was back, accompanied by the confident swagger of a man who seemed to believe he'd succeeded in some seduction.
I rolled my eyes.
"Iknew you wouldn't try to—butthey—"
"Or maybe a part of you just wanted to see what would happen," he cut me off with a feral grin and my body tensed at the low, velvety tone he used now. His slow drawl slid through me, circling around my abdomen and pulling taut on a tightness there I couldn't explain. "Ihavealready seen you naked, you know."
My gaze snapped to his and hardened.
"Don't remind me," I barked. "You only saw me because you walked in on me in the bath."
"We could make things even if you want."
My lips parted in shock. There was absolutely no way I was understanding his insinuation. He raised a brow and I nearly stopped breathing. My eyes ticked, involuntarily, downward, and the general's low chuckle vibrated against my ribcage in response. Gods, how did it come to this? We were talking about Dante being in my tent and now…
"You're that confident?" I asked, raising a brow and feigning annoyance even as my heart skipped a beat and my pulse skyrocketed.
"I have no reason not to be," he replied, taking a step back from me even as he kept his penetrating gaze on mine. "As you'll see soon enough if you take me up on my offer, little corruption."
Cheeks blazing, I scoffed and turned my back to him, telling myself I was only doing so to put an end to this ridiculous conversation, not because I didn't want him to see me blush.
"People will talk," I grumbled.
"People?" he asked from behind me, tone gone cold once more. "Or him?"
I turned to face him slowly so he got a good look at the fury in my expression, the cool rage contorting my features. I cocked my head to the side and stepped forward. The darkness pooled in my fingertips, making them tingle, begging to be released. I obliged, just a little, letting the inky smoke drip from my fingers as I stalked toward the general. His gaze ticked down, noting the threat, but, to his credit, he stood his ground. He even raised his chin a bit higher in challenge.
"I'm not a prize for boys to fight over in the dirt," I snapped. "I don't appreciate the stunt you pulled at the human palace and I don't accept your barbarian method of dragging me off to your tent. I am a fury you will not withstand, a power you will not claim, and I will not be held by any man, general."
