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Everything about the Lord changed in an instant. The friendly if cold smile slipped from his face. His entire body tensed, and when he spoke, gone was the gentleness. “And what did he say to that?”
My jaw clamped shut with the sudden feeling that I . . . I needed to be careful. It was the faint stirrings of my intuition. “He just said that his heart doesn’t beat because of hisny’chora.”
His lips thinned as they curled slightly on one side. “Did he tell you what theny’chorawas?”
“Only that it was everything. That was all he said,” I quickly added. “It was at night, and he was tired. He went to sleep.”
Those unblinking eyes didn’t leave mine. “He slept with you?”
I wet my dry lips. “Do you mean literally or figuratively?”
Lord Samriel chuckled. “Literally.”
“Yes.”
“And figuratively.”
“No,” I lied, and I wasn’t even sure why I did. It slipped from my mouth so quickly that it sounded genuine.
“Interesting.” His gaze flickered over me. “But you two have been intimate in other ways, I imagine?”
“Yes.” Swallowing, I looked away, my gaze settling on the door. “What does that have to do with anything?”
“Nothing. I’m just being impolite and nosy.”
I huffed out a dry laugh.
“What do you feel when you are with him?” he asked. “And this is not an impolite question, Calista. It’s one I need you to answer.”
Unfolding my arms, I clasped my tightly pressed-together knees. “I don’t know how to answer that.”
Lord Samriel raised his brows. “Are you drawn to him? Attracted to him? Or does he frighten you like I do?”
My heart skipped, and that faint smile returned. The Lord was . . . how did Thorne put it? Tuned in?
“I’m enjoying the openness of our conversation,” he shared in my silence. “I hope it continues to be pleasurable and easy.”
“Or?” I whispered.
“Or I will simply make it an easy conversation, though it may not be enjoyable for you.”
I looked up, understanding what he meant. He’d use a compulsion— seize my will and take control— like he’d done with Grady in Union City. A whole new kind of terror seized me. That I didn’t want. Ever. “I am drawn to him and find him attractive. After all, he is a Hyhborn prince.”
Lord Samriel smirked. “Are you afraid of him?”
“No.”
That smile returned. “He’s the only one you won’t fear.”
“And yet I’m his to kill?” I forced out the words that felt so very wrong to say.
“If he wants to survive, yes.”
I sucked in a shaky breath, chest tightened until I felt like I would suffocate. “I don’t understand.”
The Lord was quiet for a few moments. “Do you know anything about your birth? Your bloodline?”
“No,” I said, thinking of what Maven had shared— gods, was Maven still alive? I shuddered. “I just know I was given to the Priory of Mercy as a babe.”
