I frown as I shake out my hands, but that doesn’t fix the problem.
The vampire’s smile freezes on his face as he looks between the two of us. “Isthiswhy the wild wolf’s throwing a fit? Because he’s been outmaneuvered by a spoiled brat?” He focuses on me.“I’d pick the wild one if I were you. This one’s—” He clicks his tongue. “No good.”
Alistair exhales heavily. “Leave, vamp, before you piss me off more than you already have.”
“You can’t make me?—”
In three long strides, he grabs the vampire by the throat and tosses him over the railing, Alistair’s entire body tensing as he waits to hear thecrackfrom the fall. Something like that won’t kill a vampire, but it will sure hurt in the morning. Silence stretches between us, and I clutch my injured hand tightly to my chest.
“I can handle myself.”
Flinching at the sound of my voice, Alistair takes a deep breath. “Oh, really?”
“Yes,” I grumble, suddenly irritated. “Of course.”
Pushing himself off the railing, he spins around and closes the distance between us in a single heartbeat. “Then explainthis.” Grabbing my hand, he holds my claws up between us. They’re sharp, but not nearly as long as they should be. Painful if I used them against someone, but not deadly.
It’s embarrassing.
I try to tug my hand free, but he won’t let go. My blood slicks his skin, and his nostrils flare as he stares at the cut on my fingertips.
His voice cracks like ice. “You baited a vampire?”
“Not on purpose!” My cheeks flush with heat. Gods, I should not be having this conversation with anyone, let alone Alistair fucking Dire. “I’m just a little?—”
“Drunk,” he finishes for me, his eyes narrowing on my lips. “You’re drunk, barefoot, and bleeding in a castle full of—” Cursing under his breath, he drops my hand and begins to pace a few feet away. “If I knew you were this reckless, I wouldhave never—I can’t fucking believe—” He cuts himself off with a growl. “You’re unbelievable!”
“Me?” I gape at him. “You’re the one who was standing outside my window last night! What the hell were you doing, Dire? Jerking off like some creep?”
A vein in his neck pulses. “I was not—” Closing his eyes, he grinds his jaw. “Fuck, this is ridiculous.”
“Says the guy stalking me!” I jab my finger at him. “What are you even doing out here?”
His glares at my bleeding finger. “Saving you from yourself, apparently.” Running a hand down his face, he takes a breath. “Get back to your room, Wildfire, and lock the door.”
Scoffing, I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m not in my room tonight, asshole. You can’t tell me what to do.”
“You’re not in your room?” he repeats slowly, like he didn’t hear me the first time.
I roll my eyes. “I’m leaving. Goodbye.”
He storms after me, likely waking every damn student on this floor. “Where are you going?”
“Away from you!”
Grabbing my arm, he forces me to stop. “Whose room?” he snarls, his eyes flashing like liquid gold. “Who the fuck are you sleeping with now?”
Anger burns through my veins. “Excuse me?”
“Who—the fuck—are you—sleeping with?”
“No one!” I dig my tiny claws into his chest, tearing through his shirt and drawing blood. “Not that it’s any of your business who I sleep with!”
“Itismy business!” he snaps, baring his teeth. “Gods, you are insufferable!”
“You’re a fucking dick!” I flick my gaze to his crotch and laugh mockingly. “I bet you don’t even have one, is that it?You’re such an asshole so that no one has to know how tiny your dick is, Dire.”
Inhaling sharply, he shoves me against the warm stone wall and presses his full body onto mine.
