Page 92 of Dark Fey Captive

He didn’t look up.

Not even when I was twenty feet away.

My steps started to slow. I stopped at ten feet, knowing it was already too close if I needed to run for any reason.

“Nav? You weren’t bitten again…were you?”

He finally lifted his head, his tortured gaze finding mine.

“Was everything a trade? Were you unwilling the whole time?”

Those hoarsely worded questions stabbed through me like spears as I realized he’d heard everything. He knew they were on an island. He knew they were purposely headed in the wrong direction.

His gaze searched mine as understanding and panic sank deep.

He saw it all.

And he sighed.

Just like Gwen had. Defeated.

“There are too many infected. I will need to carry you back.”

I nodded jerkily.

He approached slowly, not with his usual confident stride. When he reached me, his gaze swept my face.

“Do I have your permission to pick you up?”

What?

“Of course.”

He turned his head away from me as he lifted me into his arms. And he didn’t hold me close like he usually did. Not that he held me out like he was going to drop me or anything, but there was still more breathing room than there’d been before.

I tipped my head back to look up at him as he ran. He didn’t look at me, instead keeping his gaze fixed straight ahead.

Confused, I kept my mouth shut until we were back at the house.

“Are you mad?” I asked.

His clipped “No” indicated otherwise.

Was everything a trade? Were you unwilling the whole time?

He wasn’t changing his mind about me because he knew I wasn’t that willing in the beginning, was he? I needed to show him that wasn’t the case now.

I closed the distance between us and palmed his length. For the first time ever, it was completely soft.

Shit.

He caught my wrist in his hand and pulled it away.

“I’ll get whatever you need, Arena. For you or your family. You don’t need to trade your body for anything. And I won’t replace you with one of them. Ever.” He let go of my wrist. “I thought I was winning your heart.”

He turned and walked out the back door as I stood there, stunned.

Nav wanted…a relationship?