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Jade sighed. “I’m sorry, I’m not trying to be nonchalant about this. I just don’t have much to say about it. I was unconscious most of the time. The king and his general rescued me and I recovered at the castle under their protection. I was very lucky.”
They eyed her skeptically as she busied herself by refilling beer mugs. Lisette had been drinking red wine, so Jade poured a bit more into her glass.
Michael looked as though he wanted to quiz her further. Skirting his inquiries, she hoisted a tray from the end of the bar and trolled the room for empty mugs and more orders. The activity helped to divert her mind from her time in Darien’s care and kept her from lying further to her friends. She’d held much back from them during her life, out of necessity, and didn’t like deceiving them further.
However, despite her conviction to bury thoughts of Darien deep in her mind, they still lingered. Comforting her in a way, yet also alarming her, because her heart and soul reacted to memories of their time together. It was hardly a fair hand to be dealt. One she couldn’t play.
The night progressed as it typically did, a relief to Jade. Unfortunately, Michael watched her a bit too closely, as though he were looking for some sort of suspicious behavior on her part. She didn’t think she’d given him reason to doubt anything she’d said about her hellish experience with the fire wraith. But he cornered her in the storage room nonetheless.
“Something’s different about you,” he said as he closed the door behind him.
She collected an oversized bag of pretzels the bakery delivered twice a week. “I had a very dangerous altercation with a demon, Michael. Of course my nerves are still shot to hell.”
“That’s not it. Although, yes, I can see you’re on edge. But you also seem to be deep in thought.”
Actually, she was deep in concentration as she blocked her thoughts. “I’m just focusing on my job. Don’t read anything into it.”
He skipped right over her dismissive explanation. “What happened while you were at the castle?”
“I told you, I was unconscious most of the time. Then the slayers came for me.”
“Walker and Tanner claimed they saw blood in the snow outside your cottage. You were injured?”
She sighed. “Yes, but I’m fine now.” How many times did she have to reassure everyone?
“I heard there was a lot of blood. But you don’t have any scrapes or scars.”
“Not that are visible.” Her statement was a true one. All of her scars were internal. But she’d meant to imply that she had been injured somewhere her clothing would conceal. She stared at him a moment, wondering if he’d buy into her fabrication.
Finally, he lifted his hands and said, “I know you keep some thin
gs from me, Jade. But not everything. I wish you’d tell me what really happened.”
“And I wish you’d stop doubting me.” There. She’d made her first wish. Though she knew by the determined look in Michael’s eyes, it wouldn’t be granted. Why’d she even bother?
He took a few steps closer to her and said, “I saw how he looked at you in the meeting hall.”
“He who?” She feigned ignorance. The subject matter was becoming much too touchy for comfort.
“The Demon King.”
He said it as though he needed to remind her the king was not of their species. And perhaps she did need the reminder. Admittedly, it was difficult to think of Darien as some evil entity who’d led a war against her kind. Her ancestors. He had a quick temper, yes, but it seemed to be a direct result of his territorial nature. And it wasn’t just his kingdom he was possessive and protective of, but her as well.
He’d been extremely concerned about her well-being and had been particularly gentle with her while she’d healed. When he’d made love to her, however… He’d been fiercely passionate. Darien had shown her what desire and intimacy were all about. She doubted very seriously she’d ever experience such powerful emotions with another man, not even Michael.
This was why she stepped away from him when he reached out to touch her face.
“Please don’t,” she said in a low voice. Although she suspected Darien would stay out of her head, it wouldn’t bode well for Michael if the king slipped and inadvertently learned of this exchange through her own thoughts.
“Jade,” Michael said. “The night we learned you were being followed… When we were outside the tavern… I intended to kiss you.”
She nodded. “I suspected as much.”
“Yet you didn’t move away.”
“No. But things have…changed…since then.”
His eyes narrowed on her. “What things? How? We haven’t seen each other in a week.”
