Maybe instead of teaching me how to use shadows, he could train me in becoming classier. Though the more I observed him, the more it seemed his ideal appearance was designed to lull people into a false sense of safety around a predator capable of crushing them without remorse. I’d heard enough about him to know he was capable of terrible things… It fascinated me just how depraved he truly was.
Diverting my gaze to the wide window, I made my way there to sit on the wide windowsill. It overlooked a neatly kept rose garden in the shape of a maze. ‘My insults amuse you?’
He stood, took off his jacket and hung it over the backrest of his chair before making his way to the opposite side of the windowsill. ‘The fact you feel comfortable enough with me to insult me this freely does. Also, the fact that your mind obviously bookmarked my muscles as something worth mentioning.’
‘This is the lack of oxygen talking,’ I said very seriously. ‘Maybe you need to unbutton that tight collar; your shirt seems to be making you delirious.’
‘Listen, Ava, if you want me to take my shirt off, all you need to do is ask,’ he murmured without a shred of shame.
Shit, I backed myself into that corner. Why was he even entertaining this troublesome conversation? ‘I thought you said you were busy? Yet, you suddenly have time to strip for me, something doesn’t add up. Maybe we need to crack open the window, some fresh air might help you.’
Mischief danced in his eyes. ‘The vision of my shirtless torso making you too hot? It’s okay to admit defeat, I’ll gladly open the window so you can cool down your urges.’
‘I urge you to—’
Someone knocked on the door, and a moment later it swung open. People just walked in here?
‘Oh.’ An elegant woman in a tight dress stopped in her tracks. ‘I wasn’t aware you had a visitor. One of the prospective students?’
‘No,’ Isaac answered without sparing her a glance; meanwhile, her eyes constantly travelled between us.
‘Alright, must be a family member then?’ she continued, and with his jaw clenching, he finally turned towards her.
‘Why are you here, Lora?’ he snapped.
‘I didn’t mean to disturb you at your… meeting. My first years wanted to meet the combat professor and according to your schedule, it’s your open window.’
‘And I should give in to what the first years want because...? Half of them won’t even be here in a few weeks.’
She paled. ‘As you wish. I will leave you alone with your…’
‘Leave, Lora,’ Isaac said, his tone polite yet final.
Without another word, she turned back and left, swaying her hips in a way that left little for imagination. Shadows wrapped around the office door lock, clicking it shut as his ice-cold eyes focused on me once more. ‘Where were we? Something about urges, right?’
‘Lora definitely has some. Perhaps you should offer her that striptease,’ I teased him, but he didn’t take the bait.
‘I’m not into women who only see me for my power.’ He winced, and I couldn’t help feeling sad for him.
My heart sank the more I thought about it. ‘Is that something you’ve encountered often?’
Isaac’s throat bobbed before his smile turned so raw and painful it hurt to look at him. ‘Combat’s valued in the Isles. My powers set me apart. I gave up on finding a partner a long time ago. I just… I want someone who will want me for who I am and not what I can offer them.’
‘How long is “a long time”?’
The bright blue of his irises dulled. ‘Two hundred years, give or take.’
It was difficult to even considersuch an amount of time, especially since I wasn’t alive for even a quarter of that period. ‘How old are you now?’
Looking down, he seemed a little troubled. ‘Two hundred forty-five.’
‘You gave up that quickly?’ It shocked me. ‘I know Medeis is overridden with ruthless social climbers, but I’m sure you have a soulmate somewhere out there.’
‘You think?’ he asked, his words coming out in a hopeful whisper.
‘I’m sure.’
Isaac followed my line of sight, down to the garden, before asking, ‘And you said the King of Fogoya is yours?’
