"I loved her," he says softly.
"Loved?" I raise an eyebrow.
His eyes go murderous. "Love her.Loveher," he repeats.
"Then don't speak of her like she's dead."
"And don't speak to me like you care.” He comes another step closer, and I don't move back. "You watched me court her. You watched me sit at your table. You watched her choose me. All that time, you had a way to erase me in your pocket."
"I know."
"No. I don't think you do."
His fist hits my jaw.
There is no warning. No grand wind-up. Just a swing from the hip from someone I can tell doesn’t go around punching people.
My head snaps sideways, the copper taste of blood flooding my mouth. Orcs half his weight have hit me with less commitment. For half a breath, we stand there staring at each other.
Then Caden makes a strangled sound and folds over his hand. "Fuck!Gods!"
He cradles his fist against his chest, breathing through his teeth. The anger goes out of him all at once.
"You've never hit anyone before," I say, rubbing my jaw.
"I’ve trained with swords and worked with accounting books." His eyes are watering. "Those don't have jaws."
I test my own jaw. It aches, and I know that it will leave a bruise.
Good.Finally, I feel something other than this aching emptiness.
"I think I broke my hand," he groans.
I smile despite myself. "You didn't."
He whips his head back at me, shocked. "You don't know that!"
"I've broken enough hands,” I say. I nod to his hand. “That is not broken.”
He sneers. "Comforting." He examines his reddening knuckles like they belong to someone else. "I’ve grown up with Princeton, and I never hit him once," he says. "I hit you after meeting you a couple of times.”
"It happens,” I say with a shrug.
"It happens?" he repeats, disgusted. “You get punched in the face often?”
“Too much,” I agree, and he chuffs a laugh. "It was a good punch."
"Don't compliment it."
"Just don’t tuck your thumb next time." I show him on my own hand.
"There won't be a next time.” He flexes his fingers, winces, and glares at me. “I need this hand. I have things to build."
"What things?"
"Whatever gets Mirelle’s attention for a second time."
He loves her. He loves her and he’s willing to punch me in the face to defend both him and her.I liked him before. I respect him now, and I hope there’s enough time between us where we can repair what happened.
