He would never concede.
“She’s wasting her time,” I said.
“Yes.” Ashterion’s smile turned sharp. “Which makes her dangerous.”
I hesitated. “And you?”
Ashterion said nothing, but his fingers brushed over his wedding band. And trembled.
“Why am I here?” I demanded again. “What do you want from me?”
“As I told you, I find humans fascinating.”
“Fascinating,” I echoed, the word bitter on my tongue.
“Indeed.” Ashterion dragged his thumb over his ring finger. “You in particular are intriguing. I’ve never encountered a human quite so… ferocious.”
My jaw clenched. “Is that why you kept me alive? For your entertainment?”
“Partly,” Ashterion admitted, his tone conversational. “Though I find myself more curious about what drew Varyth to you in the first place.”
“Maybe you should ask him yourself.”
“Varyth is a wild animal. He would never answer such a question.”
I bristled at his words, my anger rising like a tide.
“Don’t you dare speak about him like that,” I hissed, stepping forward despite myself. “You don’t know him.”
His eyes pierced through me, searching my expression. “I know exactly who Varyth is.” Ashterion’s lips curved into a knowing smile. “Tell me, fireling, are you a passing interest for him, or has he truly decided to take a human as his consort?”
I stiffened, the question striking hard. I knew what he was doing, trying to unsettle me, searching for a weakness to exploit.
“My relationship with Varyth is none of your concern.”
“On the contrary. Everything about you concerns me now.” He rose from his chair in one fluid motion, his movements graceful as he circled around the table toward me.
I held my ground, ignoring instinct screaming at me to put distance between us.
“You see,” he said, “Varyth has always been… selective about who he lets close. Didn’t you wonder why he’s so invested in a former human?”
I kept my expression neutral, though anger simmered beneath my skin. “Perhaps he recognises worth beyond what species someone happens to be.”
A cool laugh escaped him. “How very diplomatic of you.” He stopped a few feet away, close enough that I could see the subtle patterns woven into his dark clothing, the way the firelight caught his harsh features. “But we both know it’s more than that, don’t we?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Don’t you?” He took another step forward. “Do tell fireling, how much do you actually know about that fire burning inside you?”
“I know it belongs to your court.” My heart thudded in my chest like it wanted out. “And I know it probably pisses you off that a lowly human’s wielding power that was never meant to be mine.”
“Oh, it certainly does bother me,” he said, “though not for the reason you clearly think.”
“I don’t care why it bothers you.”
“You should.” He stepped close enough that the heat of him rolled across my skin. “That fire—it’s darker than you realise.”
“I don’t care,” I hissed again, but the truth was a knot in my stomach, twisting tight. What the hell did he mean?
