“No catch. You have my word. I only want to free you of your culinary restraints.”
He holds the piece of pastry out, and I cautiously lift my hand to retrieve it. He yanks it just out of reach. “Ah ah. Allow me.”
My brows crumple even further. “No gloating? Ever again?”
“Not a word.” I lean forward. He watches me intently, eyes fanning halfway closed as it brushes my lips. I’m about to open my mouth when I remember:You’ll be following me around like a puppy, eagerly waiting for my return, so desperate for whatever scraps of attention I give you, I’ll have you eating from my hand in no time.
I snatch my head back with a snarl, and he laughs heartily. “So close.”
Vera’s eyes are darting back and forth between us once again.
He leans back in his stool. “She’s wild, Vera. I’m trying to tame her into a proper pet, but—“
I unleash another growl, holding back a string of curses. “As you can see I still have a ways to go. You’ll have to excuse her. They do things differently beyond the Wall. She’s not used to civilized society quite yet.”
“You are the opposite of civilized society, and I’m not your pet.”
He stuffs the rest of the pastry in his mouth and licks his fingers. I make a face of disgust. Vera leans back against the counter, watching our interaction with interest and a speckle of confusion.
“Speaking of acting civilized…on a serious note, our wedding party is tomorrow and I need to make sure you understand…“ He turns to face me and breaks off with a bedraggled sigh when he sees my thickening glower. “What do you want, pet?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean in life. Your deepest desires?”
“You already know what I want,” I say blandly. “I want my freedom.”
“Right,” he says morosely. “Afraid I don’t have any spare freedom myself to give.”
“You’re not the one being locked in a room all day.”
He picks at his nails. “A different type of subjugation.”
“What type?”
“What would you do if you were free?” he asks, ignoring my question.
“I dunno. I would…live,” I say with a shrug.
He huffs a breath. “You’re living now. Thanks to me and my measures.”
Vera busies herself on the other side of the kitchen, manning the stove but I can tell she’s still quietly listening in. “What exactly do you think is going to happen to me if you let me out?” Someone will immediately sink a knife between my ribs?”
“I know they would,” he says gravely.
“What does living even mean to you? What would you do?”
“I don’t know. What does everyone else do?”
He laughs. “I don’t think you even know what you want. You don’t even know what freedom looks like, do you?”
“They do…things,” I add sheepishly. “They get to…experience. They go places, try new things, they explore and interact with whoever they want, and they get to choose—“who they marry.“They get to choose everything. They have lives. Theyliveand I...I’ve never had any of that.”
I stare down at my plate, wishing I hadn’t admitted quite as much. A long silence passes before he sighs, “Gods, that is dreadfully sad.”
I look up, looking for signs that he’s toying with me but his brows are pinched, eyes sincere as he draws his teeth over his bottom lip. “I’m sorry. I wish I could give that to you. Anything more attainable that you want?”
“Like what?”
