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“And I mean nothing to you?” he cut in, his voice flat and even despite the fierceness that radiated from every inch of his being.
“You know that’s—”
“What I know,” he cut in again, “is that the link between us has evolved into something far stronger than a mere exchange of thoughts. I will not feel your agony like that again and not do anything about it.”
My breath caught somewhere in my throat. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know—”
“And wouldn’t have cared if you had.” His voice was grim. “I’m just giving you warning never to ask that of me again.”
I took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Okay. But I also meant what I—”
“Oh, I am under no illusions where I stand when it come to your friends.”
The edge of bitterness in his voice stung deep inside. “That’s not fair, Azriel.”
“And yet it is nevertheless true.” He released me and stepped back. “Go tend to Tao.”
“Azriel—”
He cut me off with a short, sharp motion. “You have what you wanted, Risa.”
And with that, he disappeared, leaving me standing there feeling angry, confused, and oddly hurt.
“Risa?” Ilianna said.
I forced a smile and turned around. “How’s Tao?”
“Unconscious.” She hesitated. “Are you okay?”
“Couldn’t be better. Is Tao going to be all right?”
“I don’t know.” Her expression was concerned. “What’s going on between you and Azriel?”
“Nothing.” And everything. “Is there anything I can do to help Tao?”
“The best thing you can do is get some sleep. You look like shit.”
“Thanks.”
“Seriously, I want you to get some rest. The last thing I need is to be looking after two of you. Especially given what a grouchy and unpleasant patient you can be.”
I snorted softly. “I love you, too. Give me a yell if you need anything or he wakes, won’t you?”
“I will.”
I turned and headed for my bedroom.
“Ris?”
I paused and looked over my shoulder. “What?”
She hesitated. “Remember that Azriel isn’t human. You can’t expect him to react the way any human—or non-human, for that matter—would.”
“I don’t expect anything of him, Ilianna.”
“Maybe that’s the problem.”
I snorted. “He’s here for one reason only—the keys. He needs to secure them for his side, and he needs me to do it. No matter what I may or may not feel for him, that’s the one truth that can never be ignored.”
