His brows crease in confusion. “Cornelius?”
“He was doing rounds with Keagan, but I found them stalking Haven. They were saying vulgar things, grabbing—”
“Stop.” His body rigid, his eyes flash a shade darker. “Is this true?” he asks Haven.
She presses her lips together, unsure if she should answer. But that’s enough confirmation for him because he grunts and whirls back to me. “Why was Cornelius doing the guard rounds with Keagan?”
So, Henri doesn’t know about Lysander’s deal withCornelius and the duel. If I say anything more, I could damn my friend.
“Er—”
“Speak, boy!” he shouts, blackness fully swallowing the irises and whites of his eyes. The power in his voice makes me flinch back. I’ve never him angry before. Let alone yelling.
“Cornelius challenged Lysander to a duel and lost,” I blurt out. “The deal was that Cornelius would take over Lysander’s guard duties for some time.”
I expect him to lash out again, but to my relief, he draws in a deep breath and rolls his shoulders back, regaining his composure. His eyes return to their normal color, but he stands straighter, his body full of suppressed tension.
“I never approved of your little duels,” he mutters, “but I suppose everyone is allowed their fun.”
Still a bit stunned by the outlash, I don’t know what to do besides nod.
“Well,” Henri begins, much gentler, “it’s midmorning, and you need your rest.”
“I can escort Haven to her room before I go to my own,” I offer.
Henri’s gaze snaps to me. “No, you’ve done enough this evening. Thank you.”
I glance at Haven, who is standing very still beside us. I don’t understand all that’s happened here, but a part of me doesn’t want to leave her alone. Not yet. Not with him. I can read the unspoken hatred in her eyes as she continues to stare Henri down in silence.
I want to stay, but my hesitation is already peaking Henri’s annoyance again.
“I said, thank you,” he repeats through clenched teeth.
Jaw set, I bow before walking in the opposite direction down the hall to my own bedroom, fighting the urge to look over my shoulder the entire way.
Chapter 5
Haven
“I’m glad you enjoyed your stroll along the grounds,” Henri says, once Avrum has left. As much as he irks me, I wish he was still here. Henri is far worse. Far, far worse. And being alone with him only leads to equally terrible things.
“As I said before,” I reply, “it was too short.”
“What?” He reaches out a ringed finger, and I cringe when it comes close to my cheek. “Not even a simple thank you?”
“Thank yous are never simple with you.”
His hovering finger captures a curl beside my face. I try to hit it away, but the moment my hand lifts, he snatches it by the wrist and squeezes the bracelets tighter against my raw skin.
“You are so ungrateful,” he says. “All I want is to help you.”
I snort at that. “Help me?”
“For hundreds of years, I have waited for you to return to me. I have never stopped loving you,” heexplains. “I want to help you remember how much you love me.”
Wait… Had I heard him right? Hundreds of years? This man’s lost his mind! “I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“Kiss me,” he commands, gripping my wrist tighter. Pain shoots up my arm, but I swallow the scream down. “All I want before I sleep is a simple kiss.”
