hatthe hell were you thinking?”Abraxaswas still across the room from me, whereJunhad pushed him back.Heapproached in two long strides; his arm looped around my waist and pulled my body tight against him.
“Ilike it when you’re angry like this,” he said, andIsworeIsaw his forked tongue dart out between his teeth as he leaned in and surrounded me.
“Abraxas, this is serious.”
“Oh, it certainly is going to be…”Hislips pressed into the skin of my neck as his fangs left trails of harsh sensation behind them.Ishoved him back, and his face lost that glimmer of amusement.
“Areyou truly so concerned with my treatment of her?”
“Pallasis the most valuable piece we have againstHadeon.Sheknows him; she knows about the enchantment around your father’s heart.”
“Iknow that, little bird.Whydo you thinkIbrought her in here?Gods,Ididn’t even hurt her.”
“Youthink intimidation would work?Abraxas, she’s delicate.Youneed to be gentler with her.”
“Isthat what you wish?Forme to be soft-hearted and gentle?Ifear you will be sorely disappointed, my love.”
“Doyou thinkIfell in love with theDragonKingfor his gentle demeanor?No, butIalso have never known you to be cruel.Andwhat you just did toPallas, that was cruel.”
“ThenI’mafraid you don’t know me well at all.”Hestarted to caress my face.
Islapped his hand away. “Don’tgive me that.Iknow you,Abraxas.Iknow your very soul.Pallashas beenHadeon’sprisoner for centuries.You, of all people, would understand that.”
Thecorner of his lip curved down as his face pulled on the cold maskIhated more than anything. “Shedidn’t look like a prisoner to me.Whatdo you really know of her,Tori?”
“Iknow enough.Thescars are there if you know where to look.Everywoman does.”
Abraxasstiffened. “Inever considered that she, too, wore a mask; that she fought for survival…”
“Obviously, you didn’t.Andnow look what you’ve done!Allthe trustIhave built with her, destroyed in an afternoon.”
“Andyou think she is worthy of your trust?”
“Ifshe hadn’t been here,Avlynwould be a fish somewhere in theSeaofSpirits.”
Hisface went slack. “What?”Heshook his head, regaining his composure. “Mylove, you have always been more trusting than is advisable.RememberCiara?Rememberhow it cost us nearly everything?Pallashas had centuries inHadeon’scourt.Doyou really think she doesn’t work to fulfill her own goals?”
“Ithink she has been fighting to just survive.Wewere finally making progress.”
“Yougive too much of yourself too easily,Princess.Youare too trusting.Ifyou’re not careful, it will be your undoing.”
“Youdidn’t seem to mind when it was youIgave myself to.”
“That’sdifferent.Youare mine,” he grumbled, his jaw clenching.
“Possessivereptile.Iwould think that you would see the same behavior inPallas.”
Hefurrowed his eyebrows at me.
“ShelovesJun, thatIknow for certain.Andthat is enough for me.”Iwould take no more arguments from him, but he pushed on anyway.
“Tori, that’s...”Hedidn’t finish his sentence.
“What, stupid?Saywhat you mean.”
Hisface hardened. “Naïve.”
“I’veheard it before, hundreds of times, in fact.Butthis naïve princess and that brave woman are the reason your scaly ass is alive, so perhaps you should show some godsdamned respect.”
