“Do it,” I hiss, anger drowning out the urge to vomit.
Something flickers in his gaze, something I can’t quite place. “I don’t think I need to do any of that right now, Goldfinch,” he says quietly.
Fury rears up in me like a leviathan, its massive presence breaking the surface. “Fuck you,” I spit, acid spewing off my tongue that’s hot enough to burn away the chill on my soul. “You planned all of this, didn’t you? You’re manipulating me, every step of the way, making me question everything!”
My furious words end in a cough, but it doesn’t choke off my ire.
Rip shows no remorse on his face, no change in the black void of his eyes. “I find it funny that you so easily accusemeof manipulating you, when you seem to have turned a blind eye toyour beloved kingdoing it for years.”
Before I even know what I’m doing, I’ve picked up the vial at my feet and chucked it at him.
His hand comes up, catching it with a smack against his palm.
“That’s not true!” I yell, hands going up to thread through my hair, pulling, like I can pluck out the vicious words from my skull.
“Stop lying to yourself,” he counters with infuriating calm.
I hate him in this moment more than all the rest combined.
“I bet it’s not even true,” I spit. “You made Hojat tell me that, didn’t you?”
“Powerful as I am, I don’t have enough bribes in the world to make Hojat lie. My mender is infuriatingly honest at times.”
Fire burns in my chest, steaming my eyes. “I hate you.”
Rip tilts his head. “Your anger is misplaced, butIlike it,” he says with a feral grin, sharp canines gleaming. “Every time you let it leak out just a little bit more, I can see you better, Goldfinch.”
The muscle in my jaw jumps. “You seenothing.”
“Oh, I do,” he counters, voice low, rough, like two stones clashing together, trying to ignite. “I can’t wait to see the rest of you. When you let it go, when you finally let thatout, your fury is going to light up the spirit you’ve shadowed.” He looks like someone who’s won, boasting in superiority. “I hope you burn so bright that you scorch your Golden King down to ash.”
My vision flares. “Get out.”
He smirks at me,the bastard.
Smoothly, he gets to his feet, spikes unfurling from his spine and arms like a dragon stretching its wings.
He looks at me, but the tears that run out of my eyes extinguish my glare. For a split second, his face softens, his merciless eyes reflecting something other than arrogance.
“You want to know what I think?” he asks quietly.
“No.”
“Well, I’m going to tell you anyway.”
I sneer. “Goody.”
His lips flicker with amusement for a brief moment. “You may not be behind bars anymore, but you’re still in that cage. And I think part of you wants to stay in there because you’re afraid.”
My mouth goes hard, ribbons tightening like fists.
“But...” he goes on, taking a single step forward, pressing into my space, his invisible aura licking off my skin like a testing taste before the bite. “I think another part of you, the part you repress, is ready to be free.”
The pulse in my veins feels like thunder, a crash of lightning with every blink. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you? To ruin me?”
He looks at me with something close to pity. “Not ruin. You forget, I know what you are. You’re so much more than what you let yourself be.”
I try not to flinch, try not to let it show just how much his words are affecting me, just how hard they’re hitting.
