“I’m sorry about this morning,” I whispered, watching him take a sip from his drink. He swallowed hard, his eyes finding mine. Even if he infuriated me, I couldn’t stop thinking about what happened.
“You have nothing to be sorry about.”
“I didn’t think you’d be here tonight,” I admitted, my voice softening. “Does he do that to you often?”
He smirked into his glass, chuckling softly, before taking another long sip from his drink.
“What?”
“Nollie, it doesn’t matter what I tell you. You won’t believe me either way.”
“That’s not true,” I snapped defensively, my voice rising a fraction.
His eyebrow raised. “If I say yes, you’ll think I’m only saying it to get you to leave.”
I raised my eyebrow, waiting for his answer, even though he was right. I probably would have thought that.
“Elion has no qualms with punishments,” was all he answered. “And yes, it is a reason you should leave.”
“Would it make you happy if I left?” I asked, taking another sip myself, watching him do the same.
He nodded, and my heart sank at his answer.
“You wouldn’t mind never seeing me again?” I took another sip, hating the knot in my stomach.
“Who says I’d never see you again?”
“I think it’s obvious if I leave Soffikane and you live in Soffikane, we’d never see each other.”
“Would that botheryou?” he shot the question back to me and my breath hitched. Would it?
“Maybe,” I admitted, biting my lip.
The alcohol was making my brain not think straight. Maybe I’d regret it in the morning, but right now, I didn’t care. I was feeling light, giddy even. I hadn’t even realized I’d taken a step closer to him and was craning my neck to look into his eyes.
“Yes,” he said, his voice lowering. “It would bother me.” His head tilted down. “But it would bother me more if you’re alone with Elion and I can’t protect you.”
“Protect me from what?” I breathed. My stomach was doing somersaults and I swore I could feel the alcohol stir.
“Fuck, Nollie. If you don’t know the answer to that, you’re more naive than I thought.”
“So you do hate him?” Part of me was screaming at myself to keep my mouth shut and not ask. If he admitted anything right now I’d have to use it against him, and I realized I didn’t want to.
I was forgetting about the hunt, forgetting what I was supposed to do and that this was dangerous.
“Yes.” His breath hit my face as he answered. We were still standing so close. He eyed me, not backing away, even though with each inhale I took, my breasts were threatening to touch his chest.I should move.Take a step back. Do something.“Let me walk you back to your room.”
My head was dizzy and I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or what he was implying or maybe everything was all in my head. Bran’s glass was empty in my hand. I had three drinks. Three drinks more than I’d ever had in my life, and I was feeling it. I wanted to lean into him. I wanted to smell his shirt. I wanted him to kiss me so I could find out if I’d notice the chunk of his lip missing, if I’d feel it as his mouth moved against mine…
“Why do you want to walk me back?” I whispered, sucking in my breath as I waited for his answer.
“Because if I’m forced to watch one more of my men try to hit on you, I’m going to fucking lose it.”
My pulse skyrocketed.
“Okay.”
I didn’t know if I was only agreeing because of the hunt, because a part of me realized Iwantedto spend more time with him.
