“Well, you did drop me on my head and rattle my brains, love.”
She stood up from her throne with fury in her eyes. That was a look that used to herald a thorough tongue-lashing for him, and not the kind that he looked forward to. The kind that left him hard up and pissed off.
“You broke your word to me, Urian.”
Wiping at the blood on his face, he gaped at her. “You mean when Stryker cut my throat?”
“I called for you and you didn’t come!”
“I came as soon as I could. And I was told you were dead.”
She ran at him and shoved him back. “How could you not know!”
“I wasn’t a Daimon anymore, Phoebe. I don’t have the same powers now that I had then.”
“You left me!” she shrieked, repeating her accusation.
Urian caught her against him. “I thought you were dead.”
“How could you not know? I was right here!”
“Again, Phee, Stryker cut my throat. I’ve been banned from Kalosis. I was protecting your sister like I promised you.”
“What else have you been doing, huh?”
He scowled. “What?”
She slapped him. “How long until you found your dragon bitch and crawled back into her bed?”
Anger tore through him at her accusation. “Oh my God, Phoebe! I haven’t gone near a woman in years! I’ve lived in hell because of you. Are you kidding?”
“Then why aren’t you glad to see me?”
“You dropped me on my head!” He enunciated each word slowly. “You attacked me. Youslappedme! Why do you think?” Furious beyond endurance, he gestured at the door. “I came here to help you, even though I’m banned. I aligned myself to the Dark-Hunters whom you know I hate. How much more could I do to prove to you that I loved you?”
She grabbed him then and sank her fangs into his neck.
Urian hissed in pain. Damn, he’d forgotten how muchthathurt, and now that he was no longer an Apollite or Daimon, he didn’t get the adrenaline or sexual surge from it. All he felt was the agony.
Apparently, so did Phoebe. Shrieking even louder than before, she lifted her head and shoved him back. “What did they do to you?”
“I told you. Stryker killed me because I helped you and Cassandra.”
That finally seemed to get through to her. She blinked at him. “Your father killed you?”
“Yeah. How many times do I have to tell you that? Why do you think I don’t live here anymore?” Grimacing, he wiped at the blood on his neck.
The fury returned to her eyes. “Youmurdered my grandparents, you bastard!”
He did do that. Urian couldn’t deny it. “You weren’t born then.”
“You think that makes it okay?”
“No, but—”
“You lied to me about so many things!” When she moved to slap him again, he caught her wrist.
“I’m not your whipping boy, Phoebe.”
