“Sitri…what are you doing?” I heave, voice faintly disappointed.
His hand finally drops back to his side. He turns back to face me, eyes still glaring embers. Another series of sputtering noises spews from his lips and I nod along rather patiently and encouragingly considering what he’s done, internally brimming with vengeful satisfaction.
“The fuck areyoueven doing?” he clips out, still half-crazed as he waves his hands.
“What amIdoing?” I ask haughtily. “Did you remember my existence?”
His eyes bulge even further. “I—was—looking for you!”
“You--abandoned--me.”
“I told you to follow me out!” he roars. “Gods forbid you have to follow one fucking direction!”
I take two careful steps forward and halt, dropping my voice as I say, “If you think I’m going to follow you into the woods behind the woman that’s leading you there by your….cockyou’re fucking mad!” Emotion creeps into my voice and I snap my mouth shut, fuming.
His lips pop open, recognition lighting his eyes. He squeezes them shut with another low sound of exasperation. When he opens them a small fraction of the anger has evaporated. “I put her to sleep and warded the area. I didn’t—I didn’t do anything with her.”
My shoulders sink, and I wrap my arms across my chest, searching his face, dumbfounded. “You…didn’t?”
“No, I did not.”
Relief washes over me in a thick wave, the horrible mangled feeling in my chest lightening slightly. I shake my head numbly. “Then why—“
“I told you I need it to look like I’mparticipating.”
“Participating?” I repeat blandly.
“Yes, pet, participating. I definitely do whatever you—“ His eyes start to flick down my form before he squeezes them shut. “Gods, put your fucking clothes on, would you?” He shapes his hand in sharp aggravated movements, summoning my clothes from wherever he’s dropped them. They thump into my chest and he turns around rapidly like the mere sight of me disgusts him.
That well in me swells. I clamp my teeth around my bottom lip to keep it from trembling as I turn around and begin clumsily shuffling my clothes on. “I can’t read your mind, Sitri. You tell me nothing and expect me to understand everything.”
“You don’t need to understand to do as you’re told,” he hisses. “I told you explicitly, follow me out. If you lose me go to this tree and you—you—“ He breaks off with another snarl. “What were you even thinking? I didn’t feel the mark. You weren’t even afraid. You…he could’ve hurt you, he might’ve…why would you do that?”
I tug my dress down and turn around to face him with a fake facade of composure when I am anything but under the surface. “It was fine,” I say with a shrug. “He was nice.” I know I’m still trying to piss him off when he growls again and I exult in another gleeful spear of satisfaction.
“Men are only nice for one reason, pet,” he snaps.
“Yeah, well, you’re a man.”
“I am a man. That’s how I know.”
“You’re not a very nice man.”
“No, I’m not fucking nice,” he agrees and suddenly I don’t feel like I’m winning the argument…I feel like I’m being rejected all over again.
“Besides,” I say casually. “He didn’t even know who I was.”
He snorts. “Yeah, that’s obvious, pet.”
Obvious…because no one would be caught dead with a nought. That swing catches me off guard, slices right through my indifferent shield.
His face softens, and I blink numbly as the pieces come together. “You…didn’t want to be seen leaving with me.”
“Pandora,” he sighs. “I amtryingto protect you.”
“Right.” I let out a bitter laugh. The energy demanded releasing or else I’m going to cry. I turn around and drop to the ground to tug my boots on. Hating how even now desire courses through me, hot and heavy and thick. Why am I being drawn to this man who’s ashamed of me in every way? “Pandora,” he repeats,
I refuse to meet his gaze as I pull myself to my feet. “I want to go home,” I say, voice bland and face void of emotion. He positions himself in front of me…so dangerously close and tips my head up to meet his eyes. I stare off into the trees behind him. “I swear I’m trying to protect you, Pandora.”
