Page 97 of The Fifth Heir

Not because he had caught me. Not because he had defended me. Because I wanted him, and for once I refused to reduce my own wanting to a debt that needed explaining.

His head lowered.

Only a small distance remained between us when he stopped.

Torren’s fingers loosened.

He stepped back.

The sudden loss of his heat left the morning air cold against my damp skin.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

His expression hardened. “Don’t apologize.”

“I misread—”

“You didn’t.”

I stared at him.

“I wanted to kiss you,” he said.

The directness left me with no prepared response. “Then why didn’t you?”

“Because you’re injured, exhausted, and grateful.”

“I know the difference between gratitude and attraction.”

“Do you?”

“Yes.”

“Yesterday, you believed you had no place in the Trials. Today, I’m the person offering to help you remain in them.”

“That doesn’t make my judgment disappear.”

“No. It makes my position matter more than it should.”

I crossed my arms and immediately regretted the pressure it put on my shoulder.

Torren noticed.

Of course he did.

“You’re making a decision for me,” I said.

“I’m deciding what I will do. You still control your answer.”

“My answer was obvious.”

“Make it again when you aren’t standing because I caught you.”

Anger rose quickly enough to turn the terrace runes orange.

“You think I would kiss you because you kept me from falling?”

“I think you’ve spent your life believing care is something you earn by being useful.”