“Leda, what is wrong?” he asked, reaching for me.
I sidestepped, evading his hands. “Dryden wishes to speak to you now.”
“He can wait,” Bokkan replied, though he didn’t try to touch me again.
“Yeah, well, I need a few minutes alone to think aboutour mating ceremony when the testing period is over in two weeks.”
He stared at me with a blank expression, and I scoffed, skirting around him.
“Leda, wait?—”
I turned around and snapped, “Stop! I don’t want to hear what you have to say right now. I’m going to go outside and try to calm down. Away from your presence.” I took a step forward and glared up at him. “Because I’m so angry right now that I want to stab you with my dagger.”
He didn’t look scared, which pissed me off even more. Because he knew I couldn’t hurt him. Not really. And not in the way I was hurt right now.
I trusted him.
I believed his word.
I felt safe.
He betrayed me. He kept secrets from me. It made me question everything he said to me. Everything he didn’t say. And everything I believed about him.
Had he ever intended to help me get home? Obviously not or he would have stopped me at the magistrate’s office. Or he wouldhave at least explained what I’d agreed to as soon as we had a moment alone.
“General?”
Bokkan didn’t take his eyes off me, didn’t even acknowledge Dryden’s voice.
“Go,” I told him. “We’ll talk later.”
As angry as I was. As much as I wanted to hurt him… I couldn’t tell Dryden that I lied to protect Bokkan. Because even though I felt betrayed, he had protected me at every turn since the day I woke up here.
“General?”
“One moment, Dryden. Please wait for me in the office,” Bokkan said, and Dryden did as he asked without another word.
Bokkan stepped closer, lowering his face to mine. “I will explain everything to you after I speak with Dryden,” he whispered.
I stared up at him. “How can I trust that you won’t keep any more secrets from me?” I asked, my voice nearly soundless.
“Because I’ve told you everything. I’ve been honest with you from your first day here..”
“Except about this,” I interjected.
“Except this,” he repeated.
I stared into his black eyes. “I will give you one opportunity to tell me everything that you didn’t before. If you keep anything from me again, I will find a way home on my own and, when I do, I will definitely stab you before I go.”
His expression remained frozen, but I sensed he believed me and took me seriously. “I understand and believe you.”
I lifted my chin toward the hall. “Go talk to Dryden. I’m going outside to breathe for a little while and maybe to beat the shit out of one of the practice dummies in the training house.”
He opened his mouth, likely to argue, but I shook my head, stopping him. “I’m going. It’s not up for discussion.”
Bokkan shut his mouth with a snap. “Stay on the estate.”
I arched a brow at him.
