Page 22

Men. They’re so easy.

“Uh-uh,” I smile. “I’m in charge here.”

Humor flickers through his eyes. Humor and arrogance—as if he truly believes he’s the one controlling this situation. Irritation roars through me at the thought, and his lips curl in a smirk.

He knows what I’m thinking. It’s even more irritating, knowing he has somehow got me figured out already.

At least he thinks he does.

I smirk back, and we have one perfect moment of understanding. Neither of us will let the other win. It’s not how we were made.

“Why are you leading me in the wrong direction?” He asks, pulling me even closer, until he’s pressed against me, hard and thick. I barely suppress the urge to grind down.

It has been a long, long time since…

“Wrong direction? You told me to follow my instincts. And my instincts say I can’t trust you.”

“You can’t trust me?Youlied tome. That means you’re the one who can’t be trusted.” He gives me a dark, sullen look and I almost laugh at the audacity.

“You said you would keep me safe.”

“Iam,” he growls, tightening his hands on my ass. His blinks are becoming longer, and I suppress another smile.

“No. You’re traveling with me because you want what I’m protecting.”

“You’ve remembered?” his expression turns blank.

I think about lying, but Calysian’s voice turns cold, even as he begins to slur his words. “You haven’t, have you? You know what I think? I think you don’twantto remember. You’re blocking it yourself, because remembering will be painful. You’ll find yourself wondering how you ended up here alone, and where your so-called friends are.”

Pain stabs into me, and I drown it in rage. Leaning forward, I lower my head until my lips brush the shell of his ear. With a shudder, he pulls me even closer, until my breasts are pressed against his chest.

Reaching behind me, I clamp my hands onto his wrists, pulling his arms above his head. His eyes turn feral, but he allows it. Or perhaps his head is swimming. Those blinks are becoming slower and slower.

“What did you do to me?” he slurs.

“Nothing you wouldn’t have done to me the second I brought you close to your goal.”

CLICK.

Calysian’s eyes fly open, but it’s too late. I’m already snapping the other cuff around his wrist.

“You fucking—”

“Shhh,” I press my finger to his lips and climb off him, raking him with an amused look I know will chafe. “We’ve had such a nice time together. Don’t ruin it by saying something you’ll regret.”

He gives me a killing look, but I’m already turning to walk away.

“Don’t…” he mumbles. “Protect…you.”

I glance over my shoulder. His eyes are slitted as he fights against the moonshade weed I slipped in his stew.

“You think I need you to protect me? Someone who has been lying to me the entire time? Someone who has been using me for their own purposes?” My voice cracks. Fromrage, nothurt.

At least that’s what I tell myself.

Leaning down, I pick up his heavy woolen cloak, wrapping it around myself.

“I may not remember much, but I remember this: I’m Madinia Farrow. I don’t need a hulking brute to keep me safe. And I don’t need a liar trying to fool me at every turn.” Harnessing my temper, I blow him a kiss. “Thanks for the cloak.”