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"Why else would you be assigned as Saul's sentinel? A job too low level for you? It’s a punishment.” He didn’t kill me, so I took that as a signal to keep going. “I also can't help but see how your eyes wander when that young, innocent Maiden wanders through the masquerade parties.”
Maidens were women raised in the Veritas. They were chosen at birth to become the brides of men of high rank in the society.
"If you touch her..." The knife suddenly dug into my skin, his voice a low bark. Pain shot through me, a gush of warmth draining down my neck. The fucker had cut me.
I dug my gun into his side, a warning. He could slice me open, but I would bring him down with me. I growled out, "If you know anything about me, you know that I have no interest in Veritas women."
“That’s only because you’re afraid to let anyone in. Besides, you can’t help me. She’s promised to my son.”
“And yet, I see how you look at her.”
“I should kill you right now.”
“Are you willing to die for that man?” I couldn’t hide the disgust from my voice.
“I’m supposed to take a bullet for him.”
“You hate him as much as I do. Get out of my way, and I’ll make it worthwhile for you.”
There was a long pause. Then, “Say your prayers, motherfucker.”
Desperate, I pushed him. “I can give you something he won’t.”
“What would you have to offer me?”
“You tell me.”
There was a long moment as he stared into my face, trying to read me. I could see the savage beast in his eyes, waiting to be released. And yet, there was no expression on his face, no signal that he wouldn’t strike, killing me before I had a chance to even pull the trigger. The tension inside me was coiled tight, waiting for any sign of violence.
Time stretched like old taffy.
Then suddenly, he moved, taking a step back. I almost fell forward in relief.
His face was cold, his eyes hard. “Leave. Never return, or I will kill you.”
I… I was clueless as to why he didn’t kill me, or what his underlying motivations were. If he was going to take me up on my offer, or just decided to be lenient.
I also didn’t wait for him to change his mind.
Keeping my gun trained on him, I stepped back into the dark hallway, retreating quickly. When I was almost to the door, he called out. “You may pretend not to care, but I know your weakness, too. The girls.”
I stilled, my hand on the knob. I was going to kill this fucker. Was he personally going to go after them now? As a way to punish me? “What about them?” I snarled. “You want to die tonight?”
“Their inheritance is gone.”
My lips parted in surprise. How was that possible?
And why the fuck was he giving up this information?
I waited in silence to see if he would tell me more, but he just stared at me with a dark, menacing look. I met his gaze with a fierce one of my own, a warning—the girls were under my protection.
Then, when I knew he understood, I left out the back door, fleeing towards the woman I couldn’t stop thinking about.
CHAPTER 10
Summer
Two months after my mother died, I was shipped off to a year-round boarding school, coming home only on long stretches of holidays. Callie didn’t arrive at the school until two years afterwards.
