The way he stands there, unaffected, like I'm nothing more than a problem to solve.
That he doesn't rise to my bait.
Most of all, I really dislike that I can't stop looking at him.
"Just stay out of my way," I say.
"That's not how this works," Octavian says.
Damn it.
I turn on my heel, heading for the door.
"Keira," Callum calls after me.
I don't stop.
"Let her go," Declan says.
"We start in the morning," Callum says as the door shuts behind me.
My hands are shaking.
Not from fear.
From fury.
I make it halfway down the hall before I stop.
Shit, he's for sure going to be a problem.
He's not like the guards I've dealt with before. Men who look away when I slip out, bend rules to keep me happy. Octavian won't, and that makes him dangerous.
I close my eyes, taking a slow breath.
The worst part is I'm fucking conflicted by all this.
From my brothers' ask to the threats. They're real, escalating, and getting close.
But admitting that feels like giving up.
Like letting them win.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out. It’s Calli.
How bad is he?
I stare at the screen for a moment, then type back.
Worse than I thought. But I'll handle it.
Famous last words.
I pocket my phone and start walking again.
I can still feel it, his gaze, even from behind a closed door.
I step outside as my driver opens my door.
