Which again put him in close proximity.“The orb that killed Moncrief, you saw its power?”His voice was soft and deadly.
“You’re threatening me?”
“Enlightening you.You put a gun to my chest.If I could make an orb, wouldn’t I have used it against you then?”
Well… yeah.
He continued.“And, in fact, I’ve had you under my physical control twice.I could crack your neck like this.”He snapped his fingers.
Hadn’t she thought the same thing?
“And I did not.We need to find out who did kill Moncrief though, because he or she may well be after you, too.”
Ruby tried to pull away but he maintained his hold over her hand.His black-and-blue dragon stared at her, almost as mesmerizing as the man himself.She dragged her gaze to his.“Why would someone want to hurt me?Obviously Mon was involved in something dangerous, but that has nothing to do with me.”
“We don’t know why Moncrief was killed.At the least, you’re a witness.Reason enough to make sure you don’t blab your mouth about killer orbs.”
She could swear the dragon blinked.That Cyntag had the tattoo, the dragon decorations, and that he looked like Mon’s Dragon Prince was all a bizarre coincidence.But no less bizarre than the rest of this encounter.Well, than her life in the last day.
Cyntag released her and leaned against the door so that it would be impossible to open it wide enough to slip out.Okay, let’s not freak about being trapped in here with the crazy dude.
He assessed her with his dark gaze and then skimmed his hands down her shoulders and arms like he would with, say, one of his students.The action held no sensuality, no sense of impropriety, and yet, his hands left a heated imprint on her skin.
“At least you’re in good shape.That will help.”He nodded to the gun on the floor.“You came to take me down for killing your uncle.Because he uttered my name on his dying breath.”Amusement glittered in his eyes.“You, a mere girl, would take me down.”
“I’m not agirl, and don’t underestimate me.”
“I admire your bravado.You’ll need that.Still, you must never walk into the enemy’s den without knowing anything about him.”
“To be clear, I came here to snoop so I would know something about you.The gun was for protection, just in case.You were supposed to be busy teaching your class.”How had he known she was there?
“To be clear, if I was your enemy, you would be dead now.Moncrief wasn’t naming his murderer.He was trying to send you to me because, as his life ebbed, he knew I was your only chance of surviving.”In a voice under his breath, he added, “I’m sure he loved that.”He picked up the letter opener from his desk and ran his finger down the edge.“You want his murderer to face justice, do you not?”
“With every cell in my body.”
“Good.”He held the opener out to her handle first.“Take it.”
She did, feeling the warmed metal against her palm and the curves of the dragon.
He raised his arms out to his sides.“If you’re sure I killed him, go ahead then.Take your revenge.”
She squeezed the handle and stared at a chest that looked so hard she wasn’t sure the tip would penetrate.He was taunting her.Daring her.She pressed the tip to the molded pec over his heart, just below the Dragon’s mouth, and met his gaze.
“Could you do it, Ruby?As tough as you like to appear, could you sink a sharp object into someone’s flesh?It’s harder than you think, physically and psychologically, even when you feel justified.Could you handle the feel of warm blood gushing between your fingers and down your arm?”
Every bit of the rage she felt since seeing the bolt piercing her uncle’s chest rushed in around her.“Yes.”
“Good.”He paused, staring into her eyes in a way that twisted her stomach.But nothing like his next words did.“You’ve felt it, haven’t you, a rage so hot and fierce that you believe youcouldtake someone’s life?Even though that sane and civilized part of you abhors that ferocity, a darker part craves it.”Her denial withered on her tongue.He didn’t press her because he seemed to know she had.“Have you ever killed someone?”
She wanted to sayone or twobut somehow she knew he’d spot her lie.“I threatened someone.And I would have gone through with it too if he hadn’t paid for the merchandise.”She could hardly push the words out of her dry throat.
Nevin hadn’t bothered to check the slip of paper the hulk of a man waved in his face, and off the restored motorcycle went—without getting paid for.When she’d hunted the man down, he dismissed her as a mere girl.She threatened the creep with bodily harm—oddly, not with shooting him but tearing out his throat.He must have sensed her suppressed violence, because he paid on the spot.
“Killing is not easy to do,” Cyntag said.“And should never be done out of rage.”
“Are you speaking from experience?”It sure sounded like it.
His mouth twitched ever so slightly.“I don’t think we should go there just now.”
