It was the kind of agony that ate through skin and bone until all that was left was a toxic blend of wariness and hope.
He made it impossible for me to see him as a monster. I only saw a man who’d been caged too long. And for an impossible second, it felt as if we stared through the same prison bars.
He cleared his throat, breaking the spell and making my cheeks go pink.
Looking away, I fumbled with the blankets just like I fumbled with something to say. “A-Are you saying you’re finally ready to believe me?”
He sucked in a breath and sat taller, his eyes turning frosty again. “No. But no one can act as dumb as you for long.”
My chin shot up as indignation flared. “Your bedside manner could really do with some work.”
“I wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for my traitorous cat.” He glowered at Whisper who hadn’t budged from my side. “He’s the reason I saved you. If it were up to me, I would’ve just let you die.”
“That’s a bit dramatic. And pompous, actually. I wouldn’t have died. I just have these attacks—”
“Regardless. You’re welcome.”
“Why wouldn’t you have helped me?” I held his glower. “Because I’m just a rat to you?”
He scowled. “Eavesdropping on private conversations now?”
“Hard not to when you’re right here.”
“Careful,” he purred. “Just because Whisper likes you doesn’t mean I won’t hurt you.”
All those feelings he’d invoked boomeranged back with scorn. What had I been thinking? Any signs of fragility I’d seen in him must’ve been a trick of the light.
I smiled, a little unhinged. “You know what? Thanks for helping me in whatever weird way you did, but I really,reallydon’t like you.”
“Oh, look.” His smirk returned. “We’ve finally found something we have in common.”
Eyeing up the blood still oozing from his wrist, he held up his hand. “Fancy some more?”
“Not even if you paid me.”
He stilled, genuine shock making him frown. “You’re telling the truth.”
“And finally, you believe me.”
“I...I think you might be the only person in the entire world who doesn’t want it.”
“Want what?” My eyebrows flew up. “Yourblood?”
He shrugged as if he didn’t care but...something pinched his eyes. Nervousness? Self-consciousness?
Who the hellisthis man?
His confession that he’d found me noisy the other night—after just a few sentences—hinted he’d lived a very silent, very lonely existence, and...I had no explanation for how that affected me.
I couldn’t take my eyes off him. “Whoareyou?”
His gaze snapped to mine, narrowed and cold. “Still doubling down on not knowing me? Alright, let’s see how long you can keep this going.”
“Didn’t you just say that no one could remain as stupid as me and not get caught in a lie?”
“Sometimes stupidity wins over smarts.”
“Stop calling me stupid.”
