Furious, he pivoted and paced the banks again, the muscles of his back vibrating with each breath he took.
Determined to put an end to his self-recriminations, Eve hurried over and stepped in his path. He glared at her. “Stop pacing for a minute and listen to me.Iam fine. You can see I’m all right. It’s you who still suffers.”
“I could have hurt you badly,” he bit out. “Don’t ever touch me again. Understand?”
She searched his tight features. Did he mean don’t touch him, period? Or only when he had nightmares? But she had a feeling she knew which. “Yes. I understand.” Then she said softly, “If there was a way I could help ease those nightmares, I would. Who was she, the one who did that to you?”
He went motionless for a second before his expression contorted into a mocking one. “I don’t needthatkind of help. With females it always comes with a price. Don’t expect anything more from me, Eve.”
Her temper flared. Is that what he thought? Okay, maybe she did want him, but that didn't mean she’d chase after any man.
“Did I ask you for anything?” she snapped, “I don’t have to be an empath to get your ‘keep off’ message loud and clear, Reynner. You wear it like a damn shroud.”
Annoyed, Eve spun away, but he grasped her arm and hauled her back. His taut features a scant inch from hers. “The one who did that to me? Who trapped me in that godforsaken hole? She’s dead. A demoness whom I took great pleasure in beheading before incinerating her. She will never rise again.”
Eve swallowed. The brutality of his words just about stopped her heart. Just about, but it did little to tone down her irritation. “Is that supposed to frighten me?”
“It’d better. I’m not human.”
Yes, she knew that…now. Knew how lethal he could be, too. She shrugged. “I’m not scared of you. Not scared of dying either. I am mortal, I cannot escape that, so your threats hold no substance.”
His gaze darkened at her words. “Don’t push me, Eve. Don’t.”
Unable to bear his touch, she pulled free. “Why are you so angry with me? You’ve painted a clear picture of what you want. So, yes, I got it—you need my help, nothing else. So why?”
His lips compressed. A tick beat hard in his jaw. She wasn't surprised by his silence, it wasn't like he’d open up now and spill all to her.
A movement in her peripheral view hauled her out of her frustration, and she found Aerén heading for them.
“Eve—” His gaze skimmed over her in concern. “You gave me one helluva scare falling off the balcony like that. When Reynner did not come back—” He shook his head as if he expected the worst.
Eve forced a smile when it was the last thing she felt like doing. “I’m fine, Aerén.”
“Take her back,” Reynner instructed Aerén.
He was sending her off with Aerén?
Eve’s heart dipped at how easily he’d dismissed her. She straightened her spine, but couldn’t stop her irritation from spewing out. “Don’t you dare think to shove me off to someone else because you have no answer for me. I’m not some chew-toy for you to toss aside because you don’t like what I say—”
“You sure you want to take me on, little Eve?”
She hated when he called her that in that taunting manner, more that she’d lost her temper. Eve stomped off.
Stopping several feet from the crystal clear water of the plunge pool, she wrapped her arms around her shaky body.
Aerén came up beside her. “You okay?”
She glanced over her shoulder, but Reynner had disappeared. She blew out a ragged breath. “I'm fine.”
“That bad, huh?” Aerén teased.
“I’m sorry. I don’t usually get this mad, but Reynner…”
“No apologies necessary. I’ve been living with him for a few months. This is the most emotion he’s shown, which, trust me, is good.”
And just like that, her remaining anger fizzled out. A pang opened up inside her. If those nightmares were what drove him, no wonder he’d shut down his emotions—shut her out.
Shut her out?
