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“I’m curious.”

“That’s not a good enough reason for me to pour my heart out to you. Excuse me.”

“Maybe we should talk about last night.”

“What about it? Is there something unresolved?” I put my hands on my hips, er, the top of my tail. I really need to go back to land. I’ll never stop thinking like an air-breathing human with legs.

He gives me a sheepish grin. “I get why you’re mad. That’s why I want to talk.”

“Ugh. Would you take a clue? Go away.”

“I don’t think you really want me to do that.”

“You don’t know anything about me.”

He leans closer, barely leaving any water between us. I can smell his rugged cologne, or aftershave, or whatever the heck it is. “I know you’re a good kisser.”

My face burns. What is it about being under water that makes me blush constantly? I was never like this before. “Yeah? Well, that ship sailed. Now every time you think about that, you can wallow in regret. Just think of what you could’ve had.” I twirl around and race away.

Somehow he manages to block my path again.

I try to move by him. Fail.

“Has anyone ever told you how annoying you are?”

He doesn’t budge. “Once or twice.”

“Or all the time, is more likely.” I turn back around, but you guessed it, he blocks me again. “You’re seriously exasperating.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He smirks.

Hades, he is full of himself. And yet I want to kiss him again. No, I don’t.

Yes, I do.

“Come on.” He nods down the hallway.

“No, I don’t.”

His forehead wrinkles. “Huh?”

Crap, I said that out loud. “Nothing. I need to study.”

“I can help. I’ve been through all the first-year classes.”

“Did you fail them?”

“Ouch.” He puts his hand to his chest like he’s pulling out an arrow.

I roll my eyes.

He takes my hand and before I can yank it away, he threads his fingers through mine and leads me down a hallway to a door that looks vaguely familiar. Once outside, I recognize it as the area behind the academy where he brought me after I escaped the woods.

Hardly the place I care to return.

“Why are we here?”

“Because it’s quiet. Peaceful, don’t you think?”