“If I wanted a partner, I could find a partner,” he grumbled.
My nod was so serious, even I almost bought it. “I’m sure.” He was gorgeous after all. “As long as you didn’t actually open your mouth.”
The Defender blinked, then dropped his voice. “You know from experience?”
Oh boy.
Who was this man and where did the quiet, grumpy being go?And why was I eating this shit up?Was I that starved for attention? “I don’t know why you think I talk a lot, because I really don’t.”
Did he snicker?
“I’m only talking now because you deserve to know why we’re here, and I can’t stop worrying about the fact you might be the last person I ever talk to.”
The Defender raised an eyebrow slowly.
“So, are you rich?” I went for it again. “What? I don’t want your money. I’m being nosy, and you’ve been sharing more than I thought you would for some reason, so I’m going to take advantage of it since you ignored me for weeks.” I paused and changed the language again. “Do you like being… who you are?”
His face instantly went tight, and I could definitely tell I’d really gotten under his skin with that question. Part of me was shocked I had gone there. But I wasn’t sure who was more surprised when he actually answered. “Sometimes.”
Wasn’t that vague?
I had always thought the Trinity were some kind of superior species—smarter, faster, stronger, better than everyone else. I guess I’d expected them to be on another level emotionally and mentally too, like spiritually enlightened people.
But all I had to do was take one look at the man on the floor by me and see thatnope, I was wrong. There was a living, breathing man with an attitude like nobody’s business. He had opinions. He was judgmental. He sure as shit had bad moods and a smart mouth.
For all his other talents, he was… I wasn’t sure I was ready to use the word I was thinking of. It was disturbing.
I couldn’t say I was surprised that he felt a certain kind of way about what he did and who he was, though. All it took was for me to remember how people called him the Antichrist, how he’d mentioned people throwing things at him. That fire that had hurt a lot of people before he’d gotten there to help save so many lives, some people even managed to blame him for it. Once I thought about it, I could see him waiting a second or two to save someone if they’d pissed him off.
I could totally see him being petty enough.
Those purple eyes met mine, and we stared at each other for a second.
He’d regretted his answer.
He confirmed it when he closed his eyes and turned his chin away.
I shrugged and settled against the wall, rubbing my arms at the cold. Had they turned down the air? Were they going to try and test to see at what temperature I got hypothermia? Brr.
I hoped he was right about getting out of here sooner than later.
I hoped… I hoped he would talk to me a little more too, just in case.
I pressed my hand flat against my stomach and tried to ignore how hungry I was.
Then I tried not to think about my parents, grandparents, or just how much worse things could get.
* * *
A loud bang scared the hell out of me. I hadn’t even realized I’d fallen asleep, and it took me a second to remember where I was.
Wherewewere.
I looked around to spot The Defender still lying flat on the ground, eyes closed.
But it was the multiple packets on the floor between us that had me squinting.
Crawling over and ignoring the way pain shot through my poor kneecaps, I picked up one bar and then the other. There were six of them, all the same. Granola bars. They were granola bars.
