I didn’t understand. Before I knew it, I’d built up the energy of my power…totryto understand. Building, building it between us, feeling the skin on my arms prickle into bumps. Pushing forward, I felt his need. Then I felt hisanguish.
“Nik,” he bellowed sharply. “Stop.”
I was so shocked, so stunned that I dropped the small connection, leaving me dizzy.
“I do not know what it is you do,sorceress,” he spat, “but you willnotget your claws any deeper into me. Do you understand?”
My chest clenched. The haze from my desire faded quickly, like I’d just plunged into icy water, though I still tasted him on my tongue.
Sorceress?
“Youaredangerous,” he rasped, glaring at me.
Then he stormed from thevoliki, though it was the dead of night, as if he couldn’t stand to be with me a moment longer.
Chapter Twenty-One
“Come.”
His voice pulled me from my thoughts and I blinked as the stream of golden morning light filled thevoliki. He’d only ducked his head inside, the first I’d seen of him since he’d left during the night.
I pulled on my pants, tying the lace tight at my waist. I kept on the tunic he’d given me last night, tucking it into the waistband. The material was no longer transparent now that my hair no longer wet it. After pulling on my too-large boots, I joined him outside.
He regarded me carefully when I met his eyes. He was still bare-chested, his golden tattoos on full display. For the first time, I wondered how the Dakkari inked the designs onto their skin. I wondered if it hurt.
In the light of day, he looked…better. His face was no longer contorted in blind rage. He simply looked tired.
Which wasn’t surprising considering he’d barely slept. I wondered if he had slept during our journey to his horde—I didn’t remember a time when he had. He’d always been awake when I had been. Except last night…that was the first time I’d seen him sleep. His face had been relaxed, though his lips had been turned down into a frown.
I’d joined him in sleep shortly after, only to be awakened with him on top of me, his hand at my throat, fury in his gaze.
Last night hung between us.
Heavy.
Knowing.
He knew I had some sort of power. He couldsenseit, which had stunned me. Even when I’d used my gift to feel the emotions of my family members, they’d been oblivious. Yet, he couldfeelme?
How?
“Did I scare you last night?” he asked.
Breath whistled through my nostrils when I looked up at him.
“Did you want to?” I asked him in return.
“Lysi,” he murmured, scraping a hand down his face. “I did.”
He’d wanted to scare me?
“I…” he trailed off. He shook his head. He appeared…so incrediblytired. “I needed you to be as scared as you make me feel sometimes.”
His confession left me bewildered.
Iscaredhim?
I almost wanted to laugh.
