“Just curious is all.”
“Are you sure that’s all? Because it seems like there’s something more to it.” When I don’t respond, he continues. “Does it have anything to do with the same reason you were outside the tournament headquarters yesterday?”
He did see me. Blast. My hesitance at him discovering my intentions vanishes for distrust. “You’ve been following me?”
He shrugs, completely unashamed. “I thought you would know someone is keeping an eye on you. Zade said there would probably be attempts on your life and to keep someone close.”
“ Oh, he did, did he?” The one male I thought capable of giving women our space and freedom. Naturally, he’d turn out more like them. I hate this. I hate the way things are. That hate simmers in me, pulling at my magic, tugging at my will.
“ Calm down. He’s trying to help.”
“ By dictating my life? By having me followed? I’m sick of this life. And you—” I point the spoon at the door, splattering sauce everywhere. “—can leave now.”
He stands, completely ignoring the fact I’m huffing like a crazy person, and keeps his voice soft. “I know this is hard, and not what you want. I’d be just as angry. If you really want me to go now, I will, but I’m not going to stop protecting you.”
“Clearly, I’m fine on my own. There’s no need for any of this.” Why am I losing my temper with him? Why can’t I hold myself together?
His voice is calm, too calm for how much I’m yelling. “You’re not fine. We’ve already stopped two attempts on your life.”
The words fizzle my anger into coals of fear. “Two? That can’t be. I’d know if there had been attempts.”
“ You didn’t know because they were stopped before they got to you. Because we’ve been doing exactly what you want us not to do. We’re giving you as much freedom and privacy as we can, but we’re not going to let it go just so you can feel better about yourself. You need us.”
“ There were strange noises outside this morning. Was that one of them?”
“ Yes.”
No. “You really stopped two attempts?”
“Well, I personally only stopped one, but Xyer stopped the other.”
The unfamiliar name is something easier to grasp on than my life being threatened. “Who’s Xyer?”
“A friend of Zade’s.” He waves his hand. “But that’s not important right now. What’s important is you know we are protecting you.” He inches closer, his voice going soft. “I’m sorry for the intrusion this causes.”
All day I’ve been so lonely, yet I’ve had people watching over me and I didn’t even know it. Not only that, but they’ve risked their lives for me. Xyer, a man I don’t even know, and Lukas, who I barely know. He turns and heads for the hall leading to the entry.
“Wait. Don’t go.” He stops, but doesn’t turn around. “I—I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
He finally looks at me, but doesn’t say a word. His gaze is unnerving; his cocoa-colored eyes feel as if they can see through me, into me like no one’s ever been able to before. I feel exposed. And stupid. Very stupid.
“It was wrong of me to get upset with you. I didn’t understand the situation. I’m not usually so volatile, it’s just…” Just something about you makes it hard to keep my feelings inside. “Please ignore what I said. You can stay. I won’t fling anymore food about.”
Finally, he chuckles. “It does add some nice color to the place.”
I hurry to clean up the sauce. “I’m so embarrassed.”
Once it’s cleaned, I take the fruit, biscuits, and chicken to the table. Without any sauce. There’s been enough of that. Suddenly, he’s beside me. His hand reaches for a biscuit and puts it on the plate. I’m frozen, watching him serve himself. I’ve never seen anything like it. Not ever. The only males who serve are tarnished and lower class. Even Zade doesn’t serve himself. Or maybe he does when I’m not around, or perhaps he wants to let his
“Are you sure that’s all? Because it seems like there’s something more to it.” When I don’t respond, he continues. “Does it have anything to do with the same reason you were outside the tournament headquarters yesterday?”
He did see me. Blast. My hesitance at him discovering my intentions vanishes for distrust. “You’ve been following me?”
He shrugs, completely unashamed. “I thought you would know someone is keeping an eye on you. Zade said there would probably be attempts on your life and to keep someone close.”
“ Oh, he did, did he?” The one male I thought capable of giving women our space and freedom. Naturally, he’d turn out more like them. I hate this. I hate the way things are. That hate simmers in me, pulling at my magic, tugging at my will.
“ Calm down. He’s trying to help.”
“ By dictating my life? By having me followed? I’m sick of this life. And you—” I point the spoon at the door, splattering sauce everywhere. “—can leave now.”
He stands, completely ignoring the fact I’m huffing like a crazy person, and keeps his voice soft. “I know this is hard, and not what you want. I’d be just as angry. If you really want me to go now, I will, but I’m not going to stop protecting you.”
“Clearly, I’m fine on my own. There’s no need for any of this.” Why am I losing my temper with him? Why can’t I hold myself together?
His voice is calm, too calm for how much I’m yelling. “You’re not fine. We’ve already stopped two attempts on your life.”
The words fizzle my anger into coals of fear. “Two? That can’t be. I’d know if there had been attempts.”
“ You didn’t know because they were stopped before they got to you. Because we’ve been doing exactly what you want us not to do. We’re giving you as much freedom and privacy as we can, but we’re not going to let it go just so you can feel better about yourself. You need us.”
“ There were strange noises outside this morning. Was that one of them?”
“ Yes.”
No. “You really stopped two attempts?”
“Well, I personally only stopped one, but Xyer stopped the other.”
The unfamiliar name is something easier to grasp on than my life being threatened. “Who’s Xyer?”
“A friend of Zade’s.” He waves his hand. “But that’s not important right now. What’s important is you know we are protecting you.” He inches closer, his voice going soft. “I’m sorry for the intrusion this causes.”
All day I’ve been so lonely, yet I’ve had people watching over me and I didn’t even know it. Not only that, but they’ve risked their lives for me. Xyer, a man I don’t even know, and Lukas, who I barely know. He turns and heads for the hall leading to the entry.
“Wait. Don’t go.” He stops, but doesn’t turn around. “I—I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
He finally looks at me, but doesn’t say a word. His gaze is unnerving; his cocoa-colored eyes feel as if they can see through me, into me like no one’s ever been able to before. I feel exposed. And stupid. Very stupid.
“It was wrong of me to get upset with you. I didn’t understand the situation. I’m not usually so volatile, it’s just…” Just something about you makes it hard to keep my feelings inside. “Please ignore what I said. You can stay. I won’t fling anymore food about.”
Finally, he chuckles. “It does add some nice color to the place.”
I hurry to clean up the sauce. “I’m so embarrassed.”
Once it’s cleaned, I take the fruit, biscuits, and chicken to the table. Without any sauce. There’s been enough of that. Suddenly, he’s beside me. His hand reaches for a biscuit and puts it on the plate. I’m frozen, watching him serve himself. I’ve never seen anything like it. Not ever. The only males who serve are tarnished and lower class. Even Zade doesn’t serve himself. Or maybe he does when I’m not around, or perhaps he wants to let his
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