His face falls, and I know I’ve somehow managed to make a good point.
“Do you?”
“No…but I also don’t—“ He gestures to the counter. “Do all that with anyone.”
“That—doesn’t mean—you can just—“
“Pandora, I wouldneverhurt you.”
“You didn’t even ask!” My voice trembles.
He squints incredulously. “Are you going to cry?”
“No!” Tears are already pricking the backs of my eyes. I hurriedly yank the door open and slip out into his bedroom, slamming the door shut behind me. God, he probably thinks I’m insane, but his magic almost hit the daemon…
He throws the door open, and I scurry into the living room. He follows me out. With nowhere left to run, I press my back to the opposite wall. “Don’t, Sitri, please.”
He holds his palms up in surrender. “Okay, I won’t. I won’t.” He still looks baffled as he takes in the height of my panic. His voice softens as he approaches. “I really didn’t mean to upset you.”
Embarrassed, I fold my arms over my chest and look away.
“Hey.” He lays a hand against my face. Even that makes me flinch and his eyes widen. “I’m sorry.”
His stare turns scrutinizing. A look that says he’s trying to piece together what the hell is wrong with me. I push off the wall. “What did you want to talk about?” I ask, voice monotone and matter-of-fact.
He’s silent long enough I finally turn back to find him and his expression is pained. “Breakfast first?” he sighs.
I sweep into the bathroom to brave the mirror. Thankfully it doesn’t show me anything lewd as it dresses me and wraps my hair into a single long braid.
The tension is palpable as we make our way down the halls. I wanted to be close to him and I forgot thatI can’t.Not with the daemon.
Vera seems surprised to see us so early in the day but Sitri requested we not inform her of this recent incident of his injury. I’m not really lively enough to carry much of a conversation anyhow. We’re mostly silent, the sounds of bubbling pots and stirring spoons filling the room. Vera bustles in and out as she takes the pots hovering around her out to the line.
“Are you going to tell me whatever it is you need to tell me? Or are you going to keep being mysterious?”
He looks up and points at my plate. “You haven’t eaten yet.”
“So?”
“You should eat.”
“Is what you’re going to tell me so bad I’m bound to lose my appetite?”
He stares straight ahead, and my guts twist. “Sitri.”
“You lose your appetite quite easily,” he says, shrugging.
“Sitri,” I repeat, voice flat.
He sighs and scoots his plate forward but won’t look me in the eye as he says, “We have somewhere we have to be tonight. And, tomorrow night.”
“What do you mean?”
He curls his hand, peering down at his fingernails. “Tomorrow is Beltane. There are…festivities we’re required to participate in.”
“Festivities?” I ask, not disguising the panic leaking into my voice. “Tonight?” I ask, eyes bulging as I shake my head. “You…haven’t mentioned it…”
“I was intending to tell you last night, but—“
