My brows went up; mild guilt actually felt better thanthe sensation of being a bug under the microscope of Bastian’s eyes.
“Crap. I've been so distracted setting this place up. I must have missed the time entirely.”
“Mmm.” He looked around the space before flicking a cold stare back at me. “You seem to be making yourself at home.”
I paused, every instinct telling me to run out of the room. “If you want me to leave, Bastian, just say so.”
Annoyed at him, I purposely didn't use his title of Alpha. I knew how hordes worked, what he expected, but between him and Orsen, I was over burly dragons acting like spoiled toddlers. Bastian wanted my respect? Well, he could earn it like everyone else.
Still, judging by the brief glimmer of panic that flitted behind his eyes, he didn't want me to leave. He sure had a hell of a way of showing it, though.
“I’m not asking you to go,” he growled, jaw muscles tight as he glared at me. “But I think I deserve the fucking truth for once.”
His words ignited a fury in me. Why was he so convinced I was lying? He was so distrustful, and it was pissing me off.
“I’ve been nothing but honest since the moment I got here!” I slammed a file onto my desk, the thump echoing in the small space. “I don't remember you. I don't remember what happened between us. For all I know, you’re a total stranger. Sorry that’s not what you want to fucking hear, but don’t dump your trauma on me. I have plenty of my own.”
Bastian was quiet for a moment, narrowing his gaze on me. “How can I know for sure you're being truthful?”
“About me not remembering?” I couldn’t hide the disbelief in my tone.
Bastian nodded, smug as hell, and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m well aware of the size of this horde, the amount of work it will take to get everything running smoothly. Hell, I’ve been Alpha for a long fucking time. So, don’t think I can’t see the appeal in getting the hell out of here. Any excuse to leave the hard work to someone else, right?”
My jaw dropped, and I reeled back, a cruel scoff rushing from my chest. “You think I walked away…willinglyand, what, now I'm just playing dumb? Are you out of your mind?”
Bastian didn’t blink as he stared me down. “It's possible. None of us would’ve harmed you. And you’resaying a dragon hurt you? That doesn't seem true. No dragon would harm someone’s mate.” His words were utter bullshit, and I had a sneaking suspicion that deep down he knew it as well.
I took a step back. The audacity of this stuck-up dragon to think I was making it up. Who would come up with such a horrible story to just… get out of some hard work? Seriously?
“I… Honestly, I don't know what to say. I don’t owe you anything. You’ve been nothing but an asshole since the moment I got here. Hell, I can see why you hang around with Orsen: two peas in a miserable fucking pod. But. I. Am.Not.Lying.” I lifted the hem of my shirt, unwilling to be ashamed or scared, my jaw set as I glared right back at Bastian. “I assume you know what dragon fire scars look like?”
A strangled sound escaped his lips. There was no mistaking the sheen that came from dragonfire scarring. It was almost pretty and holographic, in a way. “Greylen said you were injured, but…”
“Yeah, pretty gruesome in person, huh? I havenothingto hide from you. Why should I? I don’t know you, and at the moment, I don’t particularly want to.”
He bristled, ducking his chin as he fought back what he reallywanted to say, instead going with, “You should show me some respect. I’m?—”
“Respect?” I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “I’ve spent every single day since I got here helping your horde. I’ve seen enough to know thatyou’vebeen an absolutely terrible Alpha. A subpar healer is wreaking havoc on their health; they’re cut off and alone. The damage is so great that dragons don’t want to have babies because of Jenkins. When was the last time you looked at the people you’re supposed to be protecting?”
Shooting me a look, Bastian stepped forward. “The horde is happy.”
“The horde is loyal, but they aren’t happy. Open your eyes, Bastian! Buildings are falling apart, health issues areneglected, and emotional needs aren’tbeing met. You’re supposed to be their leader. Yes, the other Alphas weren't trained for this, but you were raised frombirthto look after this horde, and you are failing.”
The moment the words were out of my mouth, I knew I’d overstepped. I came here as a healer, and I was giving advice on how to run a horde. No, strike that, I was flatly laying out all the ways Bastian—and the others—had fucked up. But there was no going back. Frankly, I was glad to get it off my chest. I’d been thinking it loudly enough, and if Bastian was going to have an attitude with me, then he could hear the hard truth.
Since he’s got such a hard-on for honesty.
I didn’t back down, didn’t duck away or make myself small, as Bastian crossed the room toward me, stopping a few inches shy of crashing into me. A waft of air rushed around me, smelling like thunder and rain, and I had to blink several times to clear my head. But there was going to benomessing around withMr.Alpha.
“No one talks to me like that.” His tone was oddly neutral, conflicting with the roaring fire behind his silver gaze.
“Yeah, well, get used to it. You want me to stick around? Then you’re going to hear thetruthyou’ve been talking about whenever I’m around. And the truth is: you need to step up and do better for these dragons. Or someone else will come along and do it for you.”
My spine tingled as Bastian’s brows sank over his eyes as he studied my face. I had no idea what he was looking for, but being under that gaze felt like being taken apart piece by piece. His jaw muscles worked, the way he was biting back his words. It was only when I dropped my eyes to the side, pretending not to care, that I noticed him balling his hands into fists over and over.
“Whatever you think you’re going to do, just know I’ve been through so much worse.”
Bastian jerked back slightly, only noticeable because I was so close to him. The darkness left his stare, replaced by something I couldn’t name. He shot a look toward my stomach, where the scars were, and I suddenly felt vulnerable.
