“Is it over between the two of you?”
I bit my tongue against telling him to fuck off, but since he was such good friends with Ivan now, angering him wouldn’t do me any good. If I’d been free to do as I pleased, I’d kick him so hard in the nuts, his future children would feel the impact; then I’d electrocute his ass straight back to the palace.
Instead, from between my teeth, I bit out the words he wanted to hear. “Not that it’s any of your business, but there was barely anything between us. Immortals enjoy sex. My path just happened to cross with his for a short time.”
A muscle in his cheek twitched when I mentioned having sex with Ryker. He didn’t like the idea of me being with another man.
Too bad.
CHAPTER FORTY-FIVE
Ellery
He tiltedhis head to the side as he studied me. “Did you have feelings for him?”
“What does it matter to you?”
“I’m curious about my competition.”
“Thereisno competition. I haven’t spoken to Ryker in months and don’t want to.”
“Good. That means you’ve moved on.”
“There was nothing to move on from.” And then I decided it was time to put him on the defensive. I was tired of being the one under attack. “What aboutyourpast relationships? Should I start asking you about all of them?”
“Feel free. I can assure you they all meant nothing to me.”
“Then why would you assume Ryker meant anything to me?”
“I didn’t, but a duke’s son is a far bigger prize than some tavern wench.”
“That’s an awful way to talk aboutanyone.”
“It’s the truth.”
The more I talked with this man, the more I understood why Ivan had chosen him. Gaius and the nobles were all cut from the same repulsive cloth.
“I’m not looking for a prize,” I told him.
But it was clear he was, and for some reason, he believedIwas it. I didn’t know why he’d set his sights on me instead of the daughter of an aristocrat or merchant, but he had.
He probably saw me as an easier target because my parents were gone and Ivan had me under his thumb. Gaius might assume that because of his new relationship with Ivan, he might be able to step in and rescue me. In doing so, he hoped to gain control of my land.
Ryker thought he desired me as much as my property, but I wasn’t sure I believed that. The man was a greedy climber who would take me down if it meant getting what he sought. And all I wanted was to get himoutof here.
“I’m afraid it’s time for me to say goodbye.” Being so abrupt with the new captain of the king’s guard probably wasn’t the best way to not piss him off, but I was tired of all the intrigue, backstabbing, and cruelty that came from all those entangled with the aristocrats.
“I hope I didn’t upset you by bringing up the duke’s son.”
“Of course not, but I have plans.”
I almost told him I needed a shower, but I couldn’t have that image in his head.
“Good, because I plan to get to know you better, Ellery.”
I really wished he’d stop saying my name. “If you’ll excuse me.”
I almost said “Gaius” at the end, but he’d probably take it as encouragement instead of the aggravation it was. When I started toward my door, he stepped to the side, blocking me.
