She shrugged. “I do trust him. I just don’t think he knows how to read between the lines like most people.”
Caidrik brushed his thumb across the bruise again. Fury coiled tight in his chest, hot and sharp, and he forced himself to stay gentle with her. He’d change all of those pack laws and make sure that anybody who harmed a female would pay dearly for it. “Did my brother hurt you in any other way?”
“No.” She looked down, and those beautiful dark eyes slipped out of his sight. “Is it true that he stole your girlfriend? That he got her pregnant and she killed herself?”
Caidrik nearly stepped back, his chest hurting now. “He told you about Carrie?”
Nadia’s shoulders slumped. “Yeah.”
“Well,” Caidrik said quietly, “I doubt he told you the full truth.” He took a breath, steadying himself. “Carrie and I were good friends from the time we were little, but that’s it. There was never anything more between us. I liked her. Maybe even loved her as a friend. I don’t know. But yeah, the rest of it’s true. He used her.”
He stared past the wall for a moment. “She went out running at night. I’m still not entirely sure she meant to kill herself, but she did fall off a cliff. Either way, I blamed him. Still do.”
Nadia nodded slowly. “So you didn’t love her.”
“Not like you’re thinking,” he said truthfully. “But she mattered and would’ve had a good life if Bulwark hadn’t gotten in the way.”
“I get it.” Nadia glanced around the room. “I’m sorry about your friend.”
The words warmed something deep in his chest. “Thank you. I’m sorry you had to go out with Bulwark. Apparently, he didn’t understand the rules of this challenge.”
She looked up again, resting back on her hands. “Oh, he understood. The rules were that I had to survive it. Anything else was fair game.” Her mouth tightened. “Smacking me around a little bit seems to be okay? Not to me, of course. I’m just talking about the rules. I think the kiss might have been over the line. If Bulwark isn’t dead, maybe we can kick him out of this contest.”
Caidrik liked that idea a lot. He would kill his brother to protect Nadia, without question. It wasn’t something he wanted to do with his mother still alive. That might destroy her. But if the choice came down to Bulwark’s life or Nadia’s safety, there was no choice at all. He leaned in and pressed a light kiss to her nose. “Are you hoping I win?”
She met his gaze directly. “I’m absolutely hoping you win.”
He wanted to believe it was because she had feelings for him. There was no doubt she wanted him. He could see it in her quickened breathing, the faint blush, the way her pupils narrowed. But it wasn’t love—couldn’t be. Someone like her, so pure, sweet, and smart, would never love a killer like him. Still, he would protect her, and sometimes that was enough.
He leaned in and gently kissed the bruise on her cheekbone. She sighed softly. Then he lowered his mouth and kissed the one on her lip, trying to make it better.
“You have got to be kidding me,” Bussy snapped from the doorway.
Caidrik barely stopped himself from jumping and straightened, turning to look at her.
“You have to stop this.” Bussy threw both hands up. “This is not during a challenge. There must be no intimacy.”
He cocked his head. “What about during the challenge? Are you saying anything goes? That she can be attacked and it’s okay?”
Bussy’s eyes widened. “Of course not.”
“Well, she was.” He pointed at Nadia, indicating the bruises on her face and lip. “Bulwark kissed her without asking, and he threw her to the ground.”
Bussy jerked upright. “You are joking. That is terrible. Solomon!”
“What?” Solomon came into view, holding the leather-bound book. Did the man go anywhere without it?
Caidrik guessed he probably slept with it under his pillow.
“Bulwark hit Nadia and kissed her without permission,” Bussy said. “Can we kick him out?”
Hope surged in Caidrik.
Solomon frowned. “Not that I can think of right off hand, but I will look. Assault should be grounds for disqualification, without a doubt. However, as I can think right now, these laws are old, and they don’t cover every contingency. So long as you emerged safely from the tunnel, Bulwark might not be kicked out. But I will search for a way to do it. I promise.” His gaze shifted pointedly to Caidrik. “However, he might be dead. One of the rescue teams just called in, and they haven’t found him. In addition, explosives detonated in the tunnel and caused the cave-in.”
Caidrik stiffened. “You’re saying somebody tried to kill them?” Even Nadia?
“Yes,” Solomon said quietly.
