“Who?” Cassian asked.
“Iza Boswell,” Samantha clarified. “She told me to be careful where I wandered and that it could be dangerous.” She glanced at the piano. “I thought it was because I wandered down a path and asked for a kiss.” She tried to blink away the tears. “I wandered, my heart was broken, and Iza’s predication came true. Therefore, I did not think there was anything of danger in the house, well, other than what was locked away in the vault.”
At least he winced when she claimed a broken heart.
“I guess there were two places I should not have wandered.” She drew in a breath. “Here and to your home!” Her hands began to shake as her body grew warm. Neither sensation was familiar as she had rarely had cause to be angry, but she would not lash out at him. “You have assumed much, Cassian,” she offered, her tone much softer and calmer than she was experiencing. “Such as what was best for any woman you may want to kiss and what their opinions would be. Maybe you should have asked instead.”
“The decisions…rejection would be the same in the end. It was better not to kiss you and retain the friendship that had developed between us.”
Her anger rose, at his making a decision that affected both of them without even consulting her.
“Thank you for explaining, Cassian.”
“I am sorry, Samantha, but I could never ask you even to consider such a future.”
“I understand.” She smoothed her hands on her gown.
He blew out a breath. “Thank you.”
“You misunderstand,” she returned. “I understand that you are a fool or you think your excuse will somehow lessen your guilt or my pain. Either way, it makes no difference.”
“It is not an excuse.”
“Then you are simply a fool. That is, if you truly do mean that you would kiss me if your situation was not currently reduced.”
“Samantha, I swear, if my circumstances were different, I would not only kiss you but court you.”
“I appreciate you assuring me, but it is not necessary.” She pointed to the door. “I would like to be alone now.”
He hesitated, then walked to the entrance but did not step over the threshold.
“Iza was right about you, too, Cassian.”
He turned and frowned, confusion in his silver eyes.
“I would like to be alone,” she said again, without offering an explanation.
He stood there for the longest time, staring into her eyes, then finally left.
Samantha remained standing and listened as his footsteps retreated down the corridor and until they disappeared.
How dare he assume what she would want or what she expected!
If she did not need him to survive, Samantha would insist that he never return.
Chapter 32
That had not gone well. Quite the opposite of well.
By the ice in her tone, Samantha likely hated him now. Which did not bode well for their future. If the curse wasn’t broken, he would never leave Nightshade Manor because Samantha could literally not survive without him.
He was not a fool!
He was doing what was best for her and him.
Well, best for Samantha, because what was best for him was to have her by his side. Selfish of him and unfair to her.
Cassian stormed past the open vault and ignored anyone who tried to speak with him, up the stairs then out the door leading to the terrace. There was a bloody Drakos family member everywhere and he did not want to speak to any of them.
