“Yes. Did you speak to him about it?”
“Yes.”
My breath caught.
“So what?” He frowned deeper.
“You left bruises on his arm.”
“What are you talking about?”
“His forearm is bruised. Badly. I found him crying in the corridor the other night. He wouldn't tell me who did it, but he said it was someone who was upset with him over a misunderstanding.”
“I never touched him,” Taroc growled. “I don't know how he got bruises, but it wasn't from me, Ember.”
I frowned. “You didn't touch him at all? Not in any way?”
“No.”
“So, he got bruised from another Wraith Lord who just so happened to have misunderstood something he said as well?”
“I don't know who hurt your friend, Ember,” Taroc snapped. “But it wasn't me.”
“He said he didn't think you realized you were hurting him. Is that it? Was it an accident?”
“Listen to me, Ember.” Taroc leaned in close. “Inevertouched him. I know my own strength. I was too angry to trust myself with him. So I specificallydidn't touch him.”
“All right.” I held up my hands. “If you say you didn't touch him, I believe you.”
Taroc let out a breath. “Thank you.”
“So who did?”
Taroc shrugged. “I don't know if anyone did.”
“What do you mean?”
“You found him crying,” he said gently. “Right outside your suite.”
“No, he was down the hall, around the corner, by his suite.”
“He was within hearing distance.” Taroc sighed and shook his head. “You're so fucking inexperienced. Men can be ruthless when it comes to love. Some men chase, some run, and some, when they see they're losing, will try to turn things around with sympathy.”
“You're saying that Caleb bruised himself to gain my sympathy?”
Taroc shrugged. “If he never gave a name, he never had to lie. Not really. It sounds as if he kept it vague.”
“I don't believe he'd do that.”
“How well do you know him?”
I grimaced. “Better than I did before.”
Taroc nodded. “All right. I'm not going to protest further because it will only make me look guilty. I've given you the truth. What you do with it is up to you.” He turned and walked away.
I wanted to call him back, but I kept seeing Caleb's bruises in my mind. Taroc was wrong. Caleb may not have given me a name, but he made it clear that a Wraith Lord had hurt him. If he had done it to himself, he was lying to me. But if he hadn't . . .
I stared after Taroc wondering if there was a reason I'd been holding back. Maybe it was the Goddess guiding me. I may not know Caleb all that well, but maybe I didn't know Taroc either.
