“I couldn’t sleep through your whimpering.”
He may as well have thrust his dagger through my heart.
“You … you called me baby.” My voice is thick with tears.
“My wrist was cramping. I needed you to finish quickly.”
I flinch. Somehow, I manage to contain my sob. He doesn’t move a muscle, doesn’t say another word. He’s ended the conversation like he ended everything else between us.
Tears of humiliation drip down my cheeks.
I lie down as far away from him as I can manage.
It takes a long time before I fall asleep.
Chapter Sixty-Nine
It’snosurprisethatI wake alone. My rage must have steeped inside my chest all night, because its bitter taste is hot on my tongue. I storm out of the tent and find Zev packing up camp.
My feet pound into the dirt as I storm over, jabbing a finger into his chest. He regards me coolly, utterly unfazed by my anger.
“You will not touch me again,” I seethe. “If there’s another storm, I’ll stay outside so my pathetic ‘whimpering’ doesn’t disturb your beauty sleep.”
Zev dislodges my finger from his chest. I shove it back harder.
“And the first chance I get to go my own way, I’ll take it.”
I watch as my words hit him.
His expression betrays nothing.
“Tides damn you to the ends of the eternal sea.” I grit my teeth, rage burning hotter in my belly at his lack of reaction. “If we come across ten rebels who decide they’re going to channel their power into me,all ten of them, you will not interfere.”
His gaze grows hot, angry. “Fine by me,” he growls. “Anything else?”
“And if I decide I want to marry one of those ten men, or all of them, ride off into the sunset and bear their children, you will annul our marriage. Actually, let’s annul it immediately.”
“Sure.” His voice is flint, but the tightness around his mouth hints at something else. “And if I forget any of that,wife, you’re always welcome to tell me to stop.”
“I mean it,” I hiss, my face heating. “I’m not your responsibility anymore. You made that clear last night. Whatever this was, whatever we were—I’m done being your burden.”
“Finally,” Zev snarls. “I’ll personally hand you over to the first rebels we see.”
I step closer, narrowed eyes locked on his.
“You’re lying.”
His lip curls into something feral. “Don’t youfuckingtalk to me about lying—”
Zev slams his jaw shut. A moment later his hand clamps over my mouth.
A finger to his lips is the only warning he gives before shoving me behind him. He scans the trees, body coiled and ready.
“What—”
He shushes me. The asshole shushes me.
Then I hear it.
