I gave up my pretense and stepped away from the window. “Why? You already know full well my purpose.”
“But not the reason behind it.”
“There’s something in there.” I rubbed my arms. “I can feel it.” Grossly unpleasant, butthere.
“In a madwoman’s rambles?”
“She wasn’t mad, not really.” Just mean and terrible.
A dark smile curved his mouth. “So few of us are.”
Frustration rose. “Why are you stopping me from reading it? I’m a grown woman. You aren’t protecting me from anything. I told you I wouldn’t be controlled.” I pressed the vow marks. Task compliance didn’t mean mental conscription.
“Perhaps it is not you who I’m protecting.” He undid his other cuff, fingers brushing his own wrist.
“You don’t know any of the people in the journal.”
He stepped toward me. “What would you say if I told you I did? That I know everyone in those pages?” He circled around me. I hated when he did that. It made me feel out of control and small.
“I would call you a liar.”
“You wouldn’t believe me?”
“You would be lying aboutsomething. Whether it’s this or lies of omission before this.”
“Ah.” He drew a hand along my neck. “And you don’t forgive easily, do you, Marietta?”
“No.” Silent and judging, standing in the shadows of ballrooms and remedial classrooms.
“You still haven’t forgiven Ferris. Your parents. Kennen. Yourself.”
I stiffened. “I have nothing to forgive myself for.”
“No?”
“You are changing the subject. Do you knowanythingabout the journal?”
“Mmm. Possibly. Possibly I really do know every person referenced within.”
I spun, but he somehow stayed right behind me, his lips brushing my ear.
“What would you do to me if I knew? If I knew exactly who killed all those women and chose not to reveal it at the expense of your brother?”
So this is what it felt like to be launched from a cannon. “What?”
“Would you feel betrayed? Have you fallen for me, Marietta?” His hands slipped down my sides and pulled me against him.
“What?” I whispered.
His lips touched my neck. “Would you believe whatever I tell you? Do you trust me? Are you mine?”
“You utter bastard.” I spun away from him. “Have I not proven trustworthy? From the start, you said I had to do whatever you said! Have I not followed where you lead?”
“What did your kiss in the tavern mean?” His eyes were unreadable and dark. “Do you know what you started there?”
“What didmykiss mean? What do your kisses mean! You always kiss me like that! You took my virginity! Sucked it right out of me! How dare—what—how—when—argh!” I gave in to the urge. “You will need to admit me to Shatterfield when we are through. Do you test everyone like this? I’ll bet you did it to Edgar. He seems two steps away. What’s wrong with Phineas and Frank and Vivienne and Rosaire?”
“Nothing.” The bastard had the nerve to look amused. “And you are the only one I’vesuckedanything from.”
