Page 19 of Bellamy

“Kind of hard to eat with you looking at me like that.”

“I’m not looking at you.” I averted my gaze to the wall above his head. Such a dingy cell for someone so…No, stop there.He was nothing to me. A dirty cell suited him just fine.

“Why are you here?” he asked, tone suddenly serious.

“King Asa has many exciting things in store for you. You need your strength. Having you weak and pathetic would take away the fun when the torture begins.”

He studied me. “Yeah, I’m not buying that.”

“What do you want me to say?”

“The truth.”

“And what might that be?”

Bellamy grabbed the wedge of bread and took a bite, gaze unwavering on mine as he chewed. “You tell me.”

The truth? I dared not even speak it into existence. It was better for both of us that way. Better to live in the safety of denial than to jump freely into a life that would only end in tragedy.

“Enjoy your meal.” I turned away from him.

One word stopped me.

“Phoenix.”

My name on his lips caused my insides to quiver. Smoothing my features, I glanced back at him.

“Did you know about this?” he whispered. “Belphegor’s plan to capture me?”

“No.”

A bit of relief touched his expression.

“But even if I had known, I wouldn’t have stopped it,” I said.

“Wouldn’t… or couldn’t?”

“Both,” I answered. “You saved my life months ago when that hunter shot me. I’m grateful, if not perplexed, by that decision. I came here tonight because a debt is owed. But we’re enemies in this war, Bellamy. I can’t help you any more than you could help me if the situation were reversed. Not without betraying those closest to us.”

“So that’s the only reason you came to see me? Because you think you’re in my debt?”

My jaw tightened. “Yes.”

“If that’s the case, you suck.” Bellamy pinched off another piece of bread. “I saved your life, and you give me stale bread.”

I don’t know why, but that made me laugh.

“This is funny to you, huh?” He brought one knee up and rested his cuffed hands on top. “Next time, I’ll just let you die.”

I walked closer to him. He watched me like a hawk, but if I wasn’t mistaken, his breaths kicked up a notch as I knelt in front of him. We were so close I could feel the heat coming off his body.

“You’d let me die?” I asked. “Really?”

Bellamy’s gaze fell to my lips but quickly lifted again. “Let you die? Maybe I should rephrase that. I’ll kill you myself.”

“Says the one chained to a wall.”

“I won’t be chained for long.” The corner of his lips hitched up in a smirk. His hazel eyes swirled, as if trying to change to a different shade but uncertain of which to choose. I knew how Lust worked, showing someone the color that appealed to them most. The dark runes on the cuffs suppressed his power though. “When I eventually get free, you better run, demon.”