Confused, I looked outside realizing that I’d lost the entire day engrossed in Endymion’s margin notes. A small smile formed as warmth from his kind gesture had soothed his absence, even if only by a fraction.
“Seriously, I don’t have all night,” he said again, shifting his weight.
Not in the mood for games, I sat up on my knees and rested back on my heels, brows pulled together as I glowered at him. “Artton, what exactly is your problem with me?”
His eyes glinted with aso glad that you askedexpression. “Youmean other than how you were being dicked down by our enemy same time last week, the fact that you joined the solstice under false pretenses, how you act like you own this place, your terrible judgment of character, or the fact that you almost got Endymion killed?”
I opened my mouth, then closed it, bristling. Magic prickled in my chest as the kindling ignited. “You’re an ass, you know that?” It wasn’t the best retort I’d ever come up with, but something in the way he always threw facts in my face drew me up short with him.
He shrugged, then leaned a shoulder against the archway. “Yeah, well, this ass has been ordered to help you dispel today.” Kicking off, he made for the wardrobe, then tossed a pair of pants and a light shirt on the bed beside me, not taking care to miss the tomes. “Just in case you’re incapable of choosing somethingappropriate.”
I didn’t miss the undertone he’d used on the wordappropriate, reinforcing just what he thought about me and my choices or, more precisely, my choice in lover.
“Fuck you,” I said, anger stealing my wit.
He smirked. “Clearly, I should’ve come sooner. Good thing I didn’t bring a tray of food. Wouldn’t want to punish the wall for my mistake.”
I balled my fists, a deep flush rising to my cheeks from the insult.
“Change. I’ll meet you in the hall.” He turned his back to me and made for the archway out of my bedchamber.
“I’m surprised you think I’m capable, you know, being a fetus and all,” I spat.
He turned back, his gaze turning predatory as his long strides ate up the distance until he was at the foot of my bed. “Oh, Nyleeria, I think we’ve already establishedjusthow capable at undressing you are. Lucky for me, evenyoucan figure out how to reverse the process.”
Before I could think better of it, my hand flew for a dagger. Quicker than I could track, Artton’s hand pressed against the soft leather. “Don’t you even think about it,” he growled.
“Or what?” I challenged, leaning into his space.
“Or you’ll find out what happens when you cross a fae that isn’t enamored by yourcharm.”
Fear, unbidden and unwelcome, flashed over me like freezing water as it suffocated the stoked fire beneath my skin. I swallowed, suddenly unsure if he meant it.
“Don’t make me ask you again,” he said, releasing his grip from the bandolier and righting himself. “And leave this here.” He pointed toward the blades before he turned to walked out.
“But Endymion told me that you’d teach me how to use them.” The desperate words flew out of my mouth before I could stop them.
He didn’t miss a beat as he laughed without turning back. “Yeah, not going to happen.”
“Asshole,” I muttered under my breath.
“I heard that,” he called back.
“It’s not a secret,” I yelled back.
The only response was the latch of the door catching as he closed it behind him.
Ten minutes later I was dressed, hair hastily tied up, and despite his clear command, the bandolier settled right where it belonged. I was ready in half that time, but screw him.
I held my chin up high as his eyes tracked the bandolier. He smirked. Fucken smirked.
Chuckling, he said, “Oh, Nyleeria, this is going to be fun.”
“Doubt that.”
His smile grew as he held out a hand to me. I eyed it, then crossed my arms and took a step back, staring him down. “Yeah, not going to happen,” I said, throwing his words back at him.
Faster than I could react, his fingers dug into the flesh of my upper arm, and everything went black.
