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Antonio’s mouth tightened. “I know.”
Tears burned my eyes. “He was selling me off. I was meant to board a ship for Eskosia, to marry one of the Fae lords."
Antonio's face darkened, his hands tightening on my shoulders. “Don’t cry,” he growled. "He'll pay for this, Carmen. For daring to touch what's mine." His eyes flashed dangerously, and I yet again glimpsed the deadly warrior who'd risen to fame in the Blood Tournaments.
There were too many emotions swallowing me whole. I gulped, and then choked. Antonio’s eyes went wide as I tried to tear off my coat and tugged at the neckline.
“Can’t breathe.” With the coat gone, he eased the zipper on the back of my dress and I drew in several gasping breaths.
Confident I was all right, he drew me close again, the anger draining from his face. For a few moments, we were locked in each other’s embrace, and I was safe.
As I sank into sleep, I could’ve sworn he said, “Ya pasó, amor,” and pressed a kiss to my hair.
I relaxed into his embrace with a soft sigh, content to remain there for as long as he'd hold me.
For now, it was enough.
Chapter10
Like A Moth To A Flame
Iwoke up curled against Antonio’s legs. His fingers were lightly circling the sensitive skin on an exposed shoulder. My sleeve must’ve slid down my arm while I slept.
I tried to keep my breathing even while luxuriating in the sensation. If he knew I was awake, he would stop. If he stopped, I might cry because it felt indescribable to be touched without someone slicing into my skin.
And then the pad of his finger glided across a stretch of abnormally tender flesh.
His whole body flexed under me and I froze in response.
The calloused finger retraced the spot, this time with more force. I sucked in a breath. It was mostly healed, but there were parts of my body that carried agony.
“Carmen,” he growled.
I took a breath and bolted up, and the side of my dress fell further down my arm. Antonio’s honey brown eyes weren’t looking at my face, they had snagged on my exposed skin.
I glanced down, looking at myself for the first time in several days. Several shimmering lines ran down my arm. My hand flew up, covering the evidence of my pain, and I looked up to see his jaw flex.
“Exactly what happened while you were captive?” he demanded.
Sucking in a breath, I said, “I am all right. Please let this go.”
He shook his head, but I drew away from him, putting distance between us once more. Antonio was always too intense—too insistent. My eyes were burning with unshed tears, and I blinked rapidly to banish them before they betrayed more than I wanted to share.
After hugging myself tightly, I closed my eyes. I told myself the love I’d felt upon seeing him again was nonsense. I cared about Antonio, and I enjoyed being near him, but this moment made me unsure that I wanted to give him more pieces of me than he had.
“What did—“
“Not now!” I barked. Thinking about what happened was hurting me. Couldn’t he see that? Every thought brought back phantom sensations from when I had been violated by needles and knives over and over. “I can’t do this right now.”
I was squeezing my arms hard enough to bruise, as if it could make me safe.
A hand rested on my knee, so I opened my eyes.
Antonio’s face was tight with rage. He took his hand away, but said nothing more. After a minute, he looked out the window, and I followed suit.
This area of town was attractive, but not because of uniform beauty. The houses were close together, and they were all clean, tall, and well-maintained, but the genuine beauty came from the difference between each dwelling. I hadn’t realized we’d arrived until the car eased to a stop outside a tall townhouse, its wheels barely making any noise against the smooth pavement. Through the foggy window, I gazed up at the classic facade with dread churning in my stomach. I had been so happy to see Antonio that I’d lost sight of what it meant to be rescued by him.
Thinking about love was not productive. I didn’t love him.
