Why can’t I remember?
It was so frustrating to have nothing more than these tiny glimpses that only confused her more.
“Why are you here?” he asked, his voice heavy with need.
“I needed fresh air.”
Sudden fire sparked in his eyes. At first, she thought it was anger, but the expression on his face denied that emotion. Rather it was one of longing or hunger.
And that fire called out to her. Drew her closer to him. His gaze drifted over her face as if he committed every line of it to his memory.
Hesitantly, he reached a hand up to touch her cold cheek. The warm calluses of his palm soothed the chill and sent a shiver over her entire body.
Ariel felt an urge to run, and at the same time, she wanted to step closer to him.
There was so much she didn’t understand about any of this. So much she needed to understand.
Yet he seemed to be the only thing in her world that made any sense. The only thing that seemed right.
She felt as if she were caught in a maelstrom. Whipped by emotions she didn’t understand. As if something was willfully impeding her or pushing her.
None of that made sense.
Any more than her attraction to a man who clearly wanted to be left alone. Why was she so unable to leave him?
You hate your brother.
That wasn’t the only reason. There was something more.
And all she could think to ask was the most obvious question. “Why areyouout here, milord?”
“It’s what I’m used to. There’s not much comfort in a tournament tent and even less so on a battlefield.”
Her heart broke for him. That this was the life he’d chosen for himself because of how others behaved.
The fact that he could still feel anything other than absolute hatred for another was a miracle. Yet there he’d been, protecting his kitten and leaving her with the comfort of his bed.…
How could anyone be so kind to a world that had been so harsh?
He made no sense to her.
Valteri struggled with emotions that were so foreign he couldn’t even begin to identify them. They were tender and protective.
This wasn’t him and he knew it. He hated people.Allpeople. Had done so for the whole of his life.
Against his will, the world had turned him into a killing machine. Had made him vicious. People like Ariel’s brother who judged him and mocked him.
But there was no mockery in her eyes as she stared up at him tonight. No fear while she stood so close, and that left him feeling weak and vulnerable.
Things he despised because they left him at her mercy. Made him frail.
He should laugh at the thought.
Frail was the last thing he could ever be accused of being. Angry. Hate-filled. Bitter.
That was mother’s milk.
Hardened.
