Page 70 of The Hunter's Empire

His lips curve into a smile. The expression never reaches his eyes. "No? Then why did you leave so quickly after the announcement?"

Roisin shifts uncomfortably. "I wanted some air."

"Interesting." His gaze lingers on her face for far too long. "I would've thought you'd be happier."

Roisin says nothing.

Conall takes another step closer. "I certainly wasn't."

That finally makes her look up. "What?"

His smile widens slightly. "I said I wasn't happy about the announcement."

The corridor falls silent. My stomach twists.

"Uncle..."

"What?" He asks softly. "You expected me to celebrate handing you over to some Swedish brute?"

Roisin visibly recoils. "Please don't talk like that."

His eyes travel slowly over her face. "You deserve better."

The words should sound protective. They don't. They sound possessive.

Roisin tries to move around him. But Conall catches her arm before she can. Not aggressively. Almost casually. Which somehow makes it worse.

"Let go."

"You've barely spoken to me for weeks."

"Uncle."

"I miss our conversations." His thumb brushes against her arm.

I immediately see her entire body tense.

"You used to smile when you saw me."

"Please let me go."

"Now you're marrying him." The bitterness in his voice is impossible to miss.

"He doesn't know you."

"Stop."

"He doesn't know what makes you laugh."

"Uncle."

"He doesn't know how stubborn you are when you're angry." His voice drops lower. "And he certainly doesn't appreciate you the way I would."

Revulsion crawls up my spine. Roisin finally manages to pull her arm free.

Her breathing has become uneven. "I want to go to my room."

For a moment, something ugly flashes across Conall's face. Gone almost as quickly as it appears. Then he smiles again.