“You’ve got heels. Jewelry. Bows…” His gaze dipped to the ribbon in my hair again. “Feels like a pattern.”
I shrugged. “Maybe.”
His mouth twitched. “Have you gone quiet on me?”
Heat rushed into my cheeks. “Just trying not to offend you.”
“Offend me how?” His brow lifted.
I blew out a breath. “I don’t know. Say something wrong. Misread something. Accidentally insult a Crow. This is dangerous territory for me.”
He looked at me for a long moment, unreadable.
“Why?” he asked. “Scared I’ll strangle you?”
“No,” I scoffed. “Humiliate me in a negotiation.”
Then he actually laughed, and it made something in my stomach drop.
“That’s not my role in the family,”
“Oh.” I nodded as if I knew anything about Crow family roles besides rumors whispered like warnings. I hesitated, then lifted an eyebrow.
“So if youdon’thumiliate people in negotiations, is the strangling thing more your department?”
“It’s more the role I play in the family.”
“Oh.” My voice came out soft. “Right. Of course. That makes sense. Obviously.”
He didn’t say anything. Just watched me, like he could see every thought tripping over itself behind my eyes.
“I mean, I don’t actually know what that means,” I admitted quietly. “And I’m not stupid enough to keep asking.”
A small smile touched his mouth. I swallowed hard, trying to ignore the way my pulse skipped when his gaze dropped to my shoulder.
“You cold?” he asked suddenly.
Before I could answer, his hand reached out, and pulled the collar of his shirt back over my shoulder. His knuckles brushed my skin, causing a little shiver ran straight through me.
I shook my head quickly. “No. I’m fine.”
The shirt slid right back down again. I grimaced. “Sorry.” I tugged it up again.
“Don’t be, you look good.” his eyes were locked on me.
The words came out so casually he didn’t seem to realize what he’d said until a second later, when his jaw tightened and he abruptly looked away.
“So—uh—the, uh… ventilation system should stabilize soon.”
It was such a sharp pivot I almost laughed. He looked like a man who’d dropped a compliment by accident and was still processing the fallout.
So I decided to save him.
“So,” I smoothed the shirt of my knee, “any idea how long this is going to take? Roughly? Considering, you know—” I motioned vaguely at him, “—the King of Villain is trapped in here, they should probably hurry.”
His brow arched. “King of Villain?”
I shrugged. “That’s what everyone calls the head Crow. The articles. The gossip. All the other dynasties pretending they’re not terrified of yours.”
