“But he—”
I shot him a glare.“Just promise.”
We finally reached the top floor after five flights of stairs.The seafoam green wallpaper was lit moodily by soft golden sconces.Begrudgingly, Maddox planted himself at the end of the hall as I continued on with burning legs and a cramp on my side.Edmund’s door was at the very end, a gold knocker the shape of a seashell gleaming before me.
I knocked before I lost courage.
A second later, Edmund opened the door, looking effortlessly handsome in a silk robe de chambre, a single dark curl flopping over his forehead.
He flashed a smile and leaned against the doorframe.“Giselle!It’s good to see you.If I didn’t know any better I would’ve thought you were avoiding me.”
The flash of anger his voice ignited within me was unexpected.I inhaled and exhaled, forcing myself to not fly into a rage at his self-assured demeanor.“Edmund,” I said stiffly.
“Have you made up your mind?Come in and let’s have a chat over tea.”
If I had to have another sip of that overly sweet concoction he called tea, I’d vomit.“My answer is no,” I said.
Edmund blinked, his mouth formed into an “o”.I would’ve found it endlessly adorable only weeks ago, but now his doe-eyed, long-lashed look only irritated me.The expression dissolved as he gave a little laugh.
“Giselle, it would be mutually beneficial, you see.I’ll get my inheritance, and you’ll get a spot in Blanche de Clare.”He enunciated the last part as if I must not have understood him the first time.The man really didn’t expect to be rejected.
Heat rose to my ears—this time the result of anger, not attraction.How I ever found this man charming was beyond me.
“I don’t want it,” I said slowly, enunciating my words in turn.“How could you possibly think I would agree to those terms?That I would do something so horrendous for the sake of riches and accolades?What do you take me for?”
“Rethink this, Giselle.”Edmund pushed off from the doorframe, his brow scrunching.Likely worry for himself, rather than concern for me.“What else do you want?I can give it to you.”
Blazing fires, he didn’t know me at all.“Mr.de Clare, there is nothing you can offer to tempt me to say yes.”
Edmund smiled, a corner of his perfect lips tugging upward.There was a smug edge to it, something I never noticed before, but must have always been there.“Not even a kiss?”he said in a low, taunting voice.
My face burned with embarrassment and rage.How I ever had a soft spot for him was beyond comprehension.“Not even that,” I snarled.
His expression grew haughty and impassive.“Then we have nothing more to discuss, Miss Phula.”
I clenched my jaw.All he ever wanted from me was my magic.Without that, I was nothing to him.Useless.I curled my hands into fists, but suddenly, there was another presence behind me.
Maddox stood with his legs apart and arms akimbo, assessing a surprised Edmund from head to toe.“Tell me where,” he said calmly, flexing his hand into a fist.
I nodded.“Nose.”
Maddox swung true.
