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He wouldn’t have this kind of conversation out in the open, but he would be damned if they didn’t speak.

Pulling out a key clipped to his coat by a lengthy chain, Geryon opened the door at the end of the hall and threw her inside the room. Then he turned and locked the door behind him so she couldn’t escape.

“You have the gall to blame me for your own heinous actions?” He threw the words at her, anger crawling beneath his skin. “You betray King Bradwick with nothing more than a noble?”

Cecily folded her arms across her chest with defiance.

“That is not why the idea of another bothers you, Lord Geryon, and pretending otherwise when the real reason is obvious is ludicrous.”

“So, what? You take my cock and that gave you the freedom to take others?” He shook his head with a dark laugh. “And here I thought you set up Bradwick and Wyetta with cunning brilliance. Would you have gone to his bed chamber if you had not been feeling unwell?”

“You may wish to believe what you want, but I do not have to explain myself to you. I have no reason to.”

He opened his mouth to rebuff her, but then closed it.

It is true. There is no promise between us.He still couldn’t help feeling something, an emotion he didn’t particularly like. He was even more furious than he’d been at the idea of her being in Bradwick’s bed.

“You would let a married man touch you?” he sneered, disgusted at the deceitful act.

Geryon knew the man cheated on his wife regularly from the mixture of women’s scents on him, and Valerie was aware he was married.

Do I feel... betrayed?He grew aghast at himself.By a fucking human woman?

“How do you know he is married? I do not believe I told you who it is.”

His eyes widened.Shit!

“Lord Daerk is the only one who wears that disgusting, pungent cologne anyone can smell from a mile away.”

Accepting his explanation, Cecily walked around him to get to the door. She pushed the handle down, only to tug on it when she realised it was locked.

“Release me. I desire to go to my apartment.”

“Tell me why, at least,” he said with a frown, feeling hurt when he shouldn’t. She eyed him with that blank and unfeeling mask.There is no apologetic face, no shame at doing it or being caught.“Or are you actually a slag in disguise?”

“I will not answer such an offensive statement.”Show me something other than that blank stare for once.Because currently, it was having the opposite effect on him than it usually did. “I do not wish to be in your presence.”

“Do you truly not care for how your words cut me? Are you truly unsympathetic towards a man who has been rather intrigued by your nature?” She opened her mouth to say something behind narrowed eyes, but closed it at the disappointed face he gave her. “King Bradwick, I understood, but anyone lower than his status is nothing but an insult.”

“You will release me, Geryon. Now.”

He stepped forward with a stomp, while swiping one of his arms to the side. “Not until you tell me why!”

Not until he understood why this woman was more villainous than he thought.Why am I so angry over this?

She pulled a dagger from the layers of her dress and pointed it like she would truly cut him.

“I am in no mood to hear your cries when this is all your fault. You have no one else to blame for how you feel, and it is deserved.”

Where did she get a dagger?He growled at it before circling her, not appreciating a human threatening him – regardless of their gender.

She mirrored his movements.

“You dare say I deserve to feel this way when I have done nothing but be tender with you?” His nose crinkled in anger. “You do not get to cast blame on me for your devious behaviour. You cannot be mad at me for it!”

He stepped forward so he could grab her wrist, but she slashed the dagger forward, warding him back. She finally frowned, her brows creasing heavily. Her eyes crinkled, as though she felt something, like his words finally pushed her over the edge.

He blinked when he realised her mask had partially come down, and he was unsure if it was a face of hurt or fury.