AR

?" I asked, s

t with a hint of smugness. He bent to kiss

cted

ng for me, he started up the stairs, leaving me trailing behind like some confused guest at my own ceremony

cy. Honesty. I deserve to

ected? One who's clearly not over it?" I caught up with him, my voic

've told you," he muttered, not meeting my eyes. "But I forgot. Besides, I never promised you a bed of rose

ing the door open behind him,

ll I could say. What was the point of arguing wit

ming in, or are you going to s

And yet, it looked untouched. The charcoal-grey duvet matched the abstract wallpaper behind the bed. A sleek door led, presumably, to the bathroom. A floor-to-ceiling window stretched across t

. But it also felt cold. Untouched. Just like

ur room, or if I'll be going back to the guest house," I s

off his jacket. "Did you read

e. I needed to survive. And now, I'd just handed myself over to a man I barely knew. A man feared across ev

yself into th

his jacket carelessly onto the bed. "It's alright, S

squeeze. Then he kissed my knuckles gently, like a twisted g

nds and destroyed enemy packs. I believed he was just misunderstood. But tonight proved me wrong. The way people looked a

d look at me

ry about pack affairs. You've got your freedom now. Unlimited access to luxury. All yo

hardening. "And you

said, All that gl

not to sign a damn thing until I understood the full wei

t maybe, just maybe, there was something genuine in his eye

I mean, it couldn't be worse than what I

ey

saw desire flicker in his eyes, but it vanished just as quickly as it came. He lifted his hand,

could barely hear myself breathe. Okay. I wasn't imagining it. He was attract

my because I wanted to protect you. Forget her. Focus on your family's vindicat

turned away, continuing to undress l

d spoke quietly. "I w

r, hands shaking as I

ld even touch it

was a mess, bloodied and bruised, his nose clearly broken. He was trembl

ed to hi

g his head so low I thought it might hi

lowly, his expre

er each other. "It's-it's-Deklan, he told m

t him off, his voice

nched into fists, and his irises shifted, changing

in the room

air refus