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“You lied to me.”

She flinched at the unexpected coldness in his voice.

“What?”

“The other day when I asked you if someone had hurt you, you said you ran into a tree. But that was a lie.”

“I didn’t… I mean, Ididbut it was a white lie.” She looked at him helplessly. “It doesn’t matter now, does it?”

“It matters greatly. It shows you do not respect me and that you think it is acceptable to lie to me. To me!” He stepped closer and she fought the impulse to back away. “I am your Zhaal and yourkalehshun. How dare you dishonor me?”

“Dishonor you? Hold on a minute. If I’d told you that Baelon hit me, you’d have killed him.”

“That was not your decision to make. I expect honesty from my mate at all times.”

Kara’s temper flared.

“I was looking out for you, you jerk. I didn’t want you going psycho on his ass and ending up in trouble. I was protecting you.”

“I do not need protecting by a human.”

“You do if it means stopping you from trying to kill a member of the ruling clan. How did you find out anyway?”

“You told me,kalehshun. When you were under the influence of intoxicating liquor.”

Shit.Kara groaned inwardly.

“But Baelon was with you yesterday at the final challenge. You didn’t attack him.”

“No. I waited until after the challenge. AndthenI attacked.”

“What?” She stared at his granite face. “Vahn, what did you do to him?”

“I did what any full-bloodied Vraxian would do to avenge his mate. I tore him apart.”

Kara felt faint.

“God, no…”

“I ripped each limb from him one by one and beat him to death with his own serpetri.”

“Fuck.”

“Then I plucked the scales from his body and bathed in his blood whilst bellowing battle songs at the top of my voice.”

“Shit, Vahn, you… sorry, you didwhat?”

“And afterwards I used his intestinal fluids to paint a lovely mural in the bedroom.”

“You’re totally winding me up, aren’t you?”

Vahn threw back his head, laughter rumbling like thunder.

“Your face, little human. It is a picture.”

“What the fuck?Was that ajoke?”

“My best one yet. Tell the truth,kalehsha. I got you.”