That deep loathing returned too. Yet his harsh words split it wide open. Had I truly treated him so terribly, as he had pointed out?
The moments after our bond snapped into place emerged from the recesses of my mind.
The elation that had traveled down our new connection.The way he’d immediately tended to me, nearly panicked by my pain.
How I’d snapped at him.
How his demeanor had changed after.
A hand squeezed my stomach, and the Issaraeth sucked in a sharp breath. I remained steadfast in my staring contest with the roof as he awoke.
And jerked his hand back like he’d been burned.
“We need to get going,” he grumbled, rising instantly. His feet hit the floor with unnecessary force.
The chain linking our fates together protested with a harsh yank between my ribs.
“I need pants,” I stated. There was no way I was moving without them. But he’d have to remove the wrap first and secure it again after.
Fuck.
I squeezed my eyes shut and willed myself to maintain my composure when he touched me again.
He rounded to my side, and something light landed on my chest. Dragging in a breath, I shuffled backward until I was sitting up.
He’d put on a shirt.
Thank the Goddess.
Smoothing down my tunic, I removed the covers from my legs. The Issaraeth set to work on removing the bind. Surprisingly, it wasn’t as sore as I had been expecting. Whether it was the poppy lingering or that I was truly healing faster, I wasn’t sure. But glad for it either way.
When it was off, I stretched forward and positioned the leggings at my feet. The movement was easy after so many years of dancing. I was incredibly flexible. Yet the tightening of the muscles around my knee had me gritting my teeth.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the Issaraeth’s hardness.
“Getting off on my pain, Issaraeth?” I taunted. Wriggling the fabric up, I managed to slide it all on my own.
My mate’s cold eyes held mine. “With how I like breaking people, how could I not?” he crooned, that velvet of his tone all mockery. “And somehow, I sense that you would like it too. With how you continue to bait me, it seems as though you are a glutton for punishment.”
Heat rose to my cheeks, but I refused to cower. To refute. To deny what he had already discerned. We glared at each other, silence crackling between us. He didn’t bother looking away as I lifted my hips to secure the leggings around my waist.
“You can wrap it again now,” I told him when I was settled.
He lifted his scarred brow. Stepped closer. My heart thumped a single wild beat as he lowered his voice. “Giving orders again? Did I not remind you last night who exactly is in control here?”
I stuck my tongue to the roof of my mouth, biting back a retort.
“If you want help,” he paused, attention raking over me in a way that made me want to squirm and part my legs at the same time, “ask me.”
My fingers dug into the blankets. What was with this male and vacillating attitude? The glimmers of kindness he offered me had to be a trap. I couldn’t let myself forget who he really was. The monster that waited beneath.
“Can youplease,” I nearly choked on the word, “bandage my knee?”
A sardonic smirk rose. “That’s better.” His fingers skimmed the fabric, my flesh heating beneath his gentle touch as he boundmy injury.
He could have prodded the bruises. Could have inflicted hints of pain.
But he didn’t.
