“Didyou change your mind?” Bones’s voice was flat now, devoid of emotion.
I turned finally, and fought to shake myself out of my foul mood.
“No,” I told him.
I walked over, balancing carefully on the high-heeled boots, and stopped in front of him, folding my arms.
“You sure you haven’t changed yours?” I retorted.
My voice might’ve been a touch sharper than it strictly needed to be.
He frowned, gauging my eyes. He clearly thought I wasn’t telling him something. That, or he thought I was lying to him outright for some reason. I felt his magic pass over me, and I didn’t think, just shoved at his chest with a hand.
“No,” I said coldly. It came out of my mouth as an open warning.
“I’ll need to be in your mind tonight.”
“That wasn’t you communicating,” I retorted. “That was you spying.”
“What the fuck is the matter with you?” he demanded. “Is this about that bloody Priest broadcast again? I’m not going to agree with you just because you want me to––”
“I don’t want to talk about that again,” I warned.
When he fell silent, his jaw hard, I looked away.
“And I wasn’t thinking about that night, anyway.” I refolded my arms. “Can we just…notfight, for a change? Can we try that? We have to leave soon, don’t we?” I pursed my lips, glancing at the clock on his compartment’s wall. “We’re already late. We’re going to be well past fashionable if we take much longer.”
He raised an eyebrow, then looked me over with the barest glance. “Nice outfit, by the way.” He grunted. “You buy it for Joran?”
I bit my lip, controlling my fury with an effort. “You told me to wear something revealing,” I reminded him. “You were very clear on that, Bones.”
“Well, points for following the assignment. You know with you wearing that, every one of those fucks will be staring at your arse and tits, asking if they can have you after I’ve done with you.”
“Isn’t that the bloody point?” I asked, annoyed, folding my arms. “Probably better they’re distracted by my body than looking at my face. Or listening to me speak.”
He only continued to frown as he looked at me. His voice grew a touch harder. “Where’d you get it? Hookers’ Emporium?”
“I got it in France, actually,” I said, my words icier. “With Jolie.”
There was a silence where he stared at me.
I saw the exact instant his eyes changed.
“Ah,” he said. “She told you.”
“Youtold me,” I retorted. “She just confirmed it when I asked.”
“And that’s why you’re so pissed off at me?” he asked derisively. “Because of one drunken snog, months ago? You might’ve told me. It would have saved me trying to guess, at least.”
I bit my lip, right before my voice grew colder. “I told her I wouldn’t give you shite about it, so I’ve been trying very hardnot to,” I said, glaring at him. “But don’t expect me to be happy about you taking advantage of one of my best friends when they’re drunk and sad, the very day they’ve just broken up with someone else.”
I was a little surprised when this silenced him.
I was even more surprised when I saw his neck and face turn a few shades darker.
“Are youblushing?”I asked. “The man-whore of Malcroix Bones?”
“I told you why I do that,” he growled.
