“You.” I glare at him, my voice icy cold. "Inside. Now."
His face goes white. No doubt he’s thinking of the three guards I shot less than a week ago. He glances at Liesl and then back at me. "Pakhan, I was just?—"
"Now."
He moves, and fast. At least he knows better than to argue when I use that tone.
Liesl watches him go and then turns to me. "What's wrong?" Her lips pinch together, and she looks irritated with me.
"Go back to your room."
"But I still have twenty minutes?—"
"Now, Liesl."
She flinches. Just slightly, but I see it—the way my tone hits her. Confusion crosses her face. "Did I do something wrong?" she asks quietly.
My jaw clenches. "No. Go inside."
She hesitates, and opens her mouth like she wants to argue. Then she closes it and nods, and walks past me toward the door.
I watch her go. I see the way her shoulders curve inward as the lightness from earlier vanishes.
Fine. She needs to learn the way of the world, the reality of the situation she’s in. She’s not here to make friends with my men.
She’s mine.
I grit my teeth together.She’s not, I remind myself. She’s not mine, she’s just a captive. Just someone I’m forced to deal with until her father is dealt with.
I stalk back inside, where the guard is standing, shifting nervously from foot to foot. I pin him with an icy glare. “My office.”
He follows without a word.
I close the door behind us when we walk in. I don't sit or offer him a seat. I just stand there, letting the silence stretch until I can see sweat forming at his temples.
"How long have you worked for me?" I ask finally.
He gulps. "Three years,pakhan. I worked for your father before you. So… a year for you. Almost." He stops talking when he sees my eyes narrow.
"And in that time, have I ever given you reason to question my orders?"
"No,pakhan."
"Have I ever been unclear about expectations?"
He swallows again, hard. "No,pakhan."
"Then explain to me why you thought it was appropriate to have a conversation with my captive."
He winces. "I was just being polite. She asked about the gardens. I answered."
"She asked about the gardens."
"Yes."
"And you felt compelled to engage. To smile. To make her laugh."
"I didn't think?—"
