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A sequence of loud bangs on my door had me jumping out of my skin, and I gripped the wall for support.
“Elowyn, you in here?” Talon’s silky voice sounded on the other side of the wooden door, and I groaned my annoyance.
I looked at my bare body—my makeshift bandage—and back at the door. “Uh, I’ll be right there!” I called out, searching my drawers for clothes to throw on.
Sure, there was a part of me that bubbled with excitement at the thought of his eyes caressing over me like they did earlier, but I knew that wasn’t appropriate. I didn’t know where these lustful feelings were coming from—or when they began—but I knew I needed to get a hold of them. Preferably in a vice grip and until I choked the life of them.
“If you don’t open this door in two seconds, I’m coming in. I saw your arm.”
My skin went cold at his words—he couldn’t finish that sentence. Not in the hallway with prying ears. I ran a hand through my damp hair as I pulled on a pair of suede leggings and grabbed a cream tunic, but I couldn’t get it over my tourniquet.
“One.”
I tried again, stretching the sleeve as far as possible, but it was pointless. It wouldn’t give.
“Two.”
Without thinking, I dropped the tunic and raced toward the door, keeping my chest covered as I popped my head through the threshold.
I took in his hardened scowl. “Hey.” My tone breathless and impatient.
Talon cocked a brow. “Hi?”
“How’s it going?”
“Are you mad?” He tried peering into my room, but I stood on my tiptoes to obstruct his view. “Why are you acting strange?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Just—uh, tired. My arm’s fine. See? Everything’s fine here. You can leave, now.”
“You’re a horrible liar, you know that? I’m not leaving until you show me your arm.”
“How about you break me out of this hellhole first, then I show you?” I countered, placing a hand on my hip.
Talon sucked his teeth as he pushed past me and entered my room. “I’m not in the mood, Elowyn. Injuries aren’t anything to play around with. Not here. Not under these circumstances.” He scanned my room—his gaze landing on my trial leathers spewed on the ground and then on me.
Talon’s gaze darkened as he took in my half-naked body, realization heating his neck.
The swell of my chest.
My bare stomach.
My body buzzed as I wrapped my uninjured arm around my middle, a poor attempt at concealing myself.
The air in the room grew tense.
We stared at one another, neither of us breathing. I waited for him to say something. Anything. Or look away. But he did neither.
Talon cleared his throat, focusing on the injured arm I held behind my back. He folded his across his chest—the veins in his arms bulging out of his olive skin. “Let me see your arm, Elowyn.”
I shook my head. “No.”
“I won’t ask you again. Show me your arm.”
There was no reason to hide it from him. I knew that. But I had it taken care of. I was going to find the infirmary tonight, and it’d be fine. There was no need to involve him—I could take care of myself. Just like I always had.
Talon raised his brows expectantly, and I extended my arm toward him. Maybe the sooner I went along with his commands, the sooner he’d leave me alone.
I bit my lip as he approached and took my hand in his, my stupid pulse pounding in my ears. He used his other hand to untie the towel, the brush of his knuckles tickling my skin.
