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“Who, Avery?”
Now who had questions? “You have a lot of nerve demanding answers when you still refuse to give me any.”
“Because I’m protecting you, you frustrating female,” Cole growled. “Haven’t you heard ignorance is bliss?”
“I’ve heard knowledge is power,” I snarled. “And I’ve been powerless for far too long. You don’t tell me shit, and then I have ogres wanting to beat me up and bartenders poisoning my drinks! This doesn’t keep me safe, you stubborn jerk. It makes me vulnerable!”
The transformation over the setting was instant. Cole may claim I was in charge of the dreams, but there was no denying the very sky darkened at the mention of danger.
“You’ll tell me where this happened, and I will deal with it.”
“I dealt with it.”
“Did you?” Cole challenged. “Because I received no word of a massacre, and that’s exactly what such behavior warrants.”
“You want me to kill everyone who gives me a dirty look?” I snapped.
“No.” For a second, his gaze softened. “I want you to tell me when it happens so I can do that.”
The words were crazy. Yet they were also affectionate, which was the weirdest thing.
I didn’t want affection. I wasn’t done arguing. “How many times do I have to tell you? I can protect myself.”
”Can you?” Cole scoffed, obviously indicating the contrary, and if I was in my wolf form, my hackles would have risen. “You need training.”
“You trained me for months. Are you saying you weren’t up to snuff?”
“I trained you in the basics of being a shifter. Not combat,” Cole countered. “And those who would do you harm have centuries of training for you to compete with.”
“Who, Cole? Who wants to harm me, and why?”
Cole ignored the question. “You need training.”
“Fine, set me up with a guard or something, but tell me why.” I hated that I felt like I was begging for scraps.
His eyes flashed. “No other male will train you.”
“Well, I’m not training with you. Not while you keep being so damn cryptic about everything.”
Cole stepped forward, closing the small amount of space I’d carved between us. “If you refuse to train, you will only move with a full guard.”
“I don’t need babysitters!” Okay, maybe Daphne and I would’ve been in big trouble if Phaidros hadn’t shown up, but the last thing I wanted was more people who thought I was the old evil queen or something watching my every move. And I did want to train. But right now, allowing Cole to do so, sinking back into old patterns, would be giving in. Like before, when I’d let him keep me ignorant. He’d had more secrets than I’d ever imagined, starting with being the king of the entire freaking realm.
“Then I simply won’t allow you to leave the palace.”
“Allow?” I growled. “No one allows me to do anything, Cole. I’ll come and go as I damn well please.”
Cole leaned in. “If you think I won’t chain you to our room to keep you from falling into more trouble, you’re sorely mistaken, little wolf. Train or find out.”
“I’ll train with Hecate.”
“She can’t teach you everything you need to know,” he snapped.
“No, but at least she tells me some things. Tell me, Cole, since I’ve come back, what is one piece of information you’ve given me?” Fury coated my words. “Tell me about my past life. Our past. Why the people hate me. Anything, dammit. Just stop keeping me in the dark!”
Something like guilt crossed his face, but it was gone too quickly, replaced with resolve. “I’ll tell you this, Avery. Everything I do, everything I have ever done, has been to keep you safe. And if I’ve learned anything in my long life, you make that task exceptionally difficult.”
Infuriating male!
