I dip into a slight curtsy and slide to the side, intent on shifting around him like water averting a river rock, but he moves with me.
My eyes narrow.
The entry to Stony Stem isjust behind him,and I’m dripping the ocean all over the floor.
“Excuse me,” I mutter, taking another sideways step. Again, he mimics the movement, causing me to shoulder the stone door that’s always locked—the one Rhordyn uses some nights before he leaves the castle grounds.
Next to The Keep and The Den,thisdoor annoys me the most.
Intrigues me the most.
I’ve twisted many hairpins trying to break into the damn thing. It’s probably a glorified broom closet, but not knowing ... it’s a certain sort of torture I don’t particularly enjoy.
I sigh, leaning against it, arching a brow and pointing my thumb at its stony face. “Are you finally taking me on a tour?”
Hands sliding deep into his pockets, he fixes me with an icy stare. “Your cut.”
“What about it?”
There’s the seed of challenge in his eyes. “It’s been healed.”
I feel the blood drain from my face.
Can he ... can he smell that? Was hewatching?
Hell ...
“Kai’s tongue is multi-talented,” I blurt, suffering a sudden wave of verbal diarrhea that’s sure to earn me a prompt eviction.
“Is that so?” He steps forward, voice drilling beneath my skin and gripping hold of my heart.
Squeezingit.
I retreat a larger step, struggling to find even an ounce of air to nourish my suffocating lungs. “Don’t you, ahh ... have to visit one of the local villages this afternoon?” I ask, my voice somewhat raspier than usual.
Both brows lift this time. “Barth. Yes. Why? Do you want to come?”
I blink at him.
Hasn’t he pecked at me enough for one day? I’ve already agreed to attend his ball.
“No, thank you.”
I swear I hear the words thump on the ground between us.
There’s the slightest twitch at the corner of his mouth, something that almost softens one of his many hard edges.
Almost.
“You know,” he starts, rolling his sleeves, exposing powerful forearms and a wealth of tawny skin branded with a tease of silver scripture I wish I could see more of. “There is a bakery there that supplies the best honey buns in all the territories.”
I frown.
“Can’t you just bring some back for me?” I almost suggest he stash them in The Safe in exchange for my offering, but we don’t talk about that.
Ever.
He shrugs, the smooth movement somehow lethal enough to crush a man’s spirit.
