One eyebrow arches up, right along with one side of his mouth. “Hit a sore spot, did I?”
I know instantly I gave too much away, but it isn’t like I had a choice. Not reacting would have been harder than telling myself not to breathe when I know I need oxygen to survive. “You could say that,” I agree. There’s no point in trying to lie.
“Maybe you just needed food.” He considers me as if he’s seeing me in a new light. “You’ve already figured out I want to know about the Ivy. What do you want, Briar?” His use of my name still bothers me. It feels too familiar, but I can’t demand that he call me something else. It would be pointless.
“To start, I want a cloak like yours, made of fur or something similar that will keep me warm.”
“I know something that could get you a lot warmer than a cloak,” he purrs, but there’s no heat in his eyes. It makes me wonder if that part of his persona is an act or if he really cares so little about who he takes to his bed.
“I would die before I let a single person touch me in that way.” I let Mick see and hear the truth in my words. The thought of someone else’s fingers brushing my skin, erasing Ziv’s touch, is enough to make me want to crawl into a hole and never come out.
“You seem to believe that… for now.”
“For always,” I state then follow it up with something I hope will tempt him into taking my offer. “I can tell you about the Ivy.”
“Just about the Ivy? What about the other trainees and tutors?”
“I can tell you about the novices and many of the instructors.”
“Novices, that’s so damn uppity,” Mick scoffs. The way he says it actually makes me look at him, not just examine the way his face moves and reacts. He’s young, probably not much older than me, and just as jaded.
“Are you a tutor or a trainee?” I didn’t intend to ask the question out loud, but it’s there all the same.
“Tutor.” He curls his lips in a sneer, clearly affronted by my question.
I raise my hands in surrender. “We should be called sacrifices or, at the very least, pawns if you ask me. I think both are stupid.”
My response seems to put him at ease. “What do you know of the banshee?” I’m surprised he went right for the top, and it must show on my face, because he adds, “I want to know if you’re wasting my time.”
“I know she didn’t like me very much but wanted to use me.” I hope that’s enough to tide him over, because in truth, I don’t know much about the headmistress.
“I don’t think that makes you or her all that special,” he surmises, and it’s the truth. We all want to use each other, some are just willing to go further to get what they want. How far am I willing to go is a question I’ll have to answer myself at some point.
“The truth is she kept her distance from me. I would be lying if I told you anything else.”
Mick squints at me. “Interesting.”
“Not really. I’m not very likable. Most people keep their distance.”
This time when he smiles, it seems more genuine, and I don’t like the fact that it makes him a little more tolerable. “I was commenting on the fact that you told the truth, even knowing it could make you less valuable, not the fact that you’re not likable.”
“Oh,” is all I manage to say.
“What about the one they call Ziv?” He nearly whispers the name, as if he doesn’t want to be overheard. My heart constricts as if I’ve been stabbed in the chest, but I make every effort not to react. Could it be possible that they don’t know who and what Ziv is to me? I examine Mick, searching his face for clues to see if he’s testing me, and come up empty. I don’t know him enough to even guess at his motive.
“I might know something about him, but that will cost you more than a cloak.” There’s no way I would tell him anything about Ziv that isn’t common knowledge, but I’ll still use it to get what I need. I don’t think my mate would want it any other way. He trained me to do anything in my power to survive, and that’s exactly what I’m doing.
“Like what, and how do I know what you’ll tell me will be worth it?”
“Got anyone else to ask?” I make a point of looking around the dismal room.
“Are you finished slopping up your plate, or are you going to lick the table clean?” He changes the subject without warning. I’m not sure how I feel about it or going back to the dregs without any protection.
“Don’t let me hold you up.” I easily dismiss him and his insult. “I’m sure someone else will be interested in what I know.” I look around.
“I don’t get jealous, Briar.”
“That’s smart, because I don’t belong to you or owe you any loyalty.”
