Page 66 of Claim Me

“I don’t need to know your truths to know when you’re lying, Fallon. Your pulse tells me everything I need to know.”

Her nostrils flare. “Except my secrets.”

“Except those,” I agree, furious with her.

“They’re not yours to know,” she says through gritted teeth. “I don’t care how entitled you feel toward me and my life; that doesn’t meanIhave to share a damn thing with you. I choose for myself. I decide what I share and what I don’t share. And there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.”

I glare down at her. “Is that how you really feel? That all of this is aboutentitlement?”

“I haven’t heard any other reason for why you feel so compelled to know every detail about my life. So yeah. It feels like entitlement to me.”

“I’m the Gold and Garnet King. It’s my job to protect everyone in this House. Which means knowing every detail of every potential threat so that I can make difficult decisions that safeguard my people. Is thatentitled, Fallon?”

Her jaw clenches again, those beautiful eyes burning with renewed flames. “My history isn’t a threat.”

“The flicker in your pulse just now says otherwise,” I bite back, causing her eyes to widen. “So that’s three times now in the span of thirty minutes that you’ve lied to me, Miss Doyle. That’s unacceptable.”

“What’s unacceptable is the way you’re manhandling me right now,Mister Antonik.”

“King Kaspian,” I correct her. “That’s how you should address me at all times, Miss Doyle, but I’ve been lenient with you. Far too lenient, actually. To the point that I’ve ensured your comfort at every turn, even when you haven’t earned it. That changes now.”

Her eyes widen a fraction. “Oh? Is now when you throw me in Klas’s old cell? All because you think I’m lying about my sister?”

“Iknowyou’re lying about your sister, and until I find out why, I don’t have much choice. You’ve disrespected me and my hospitality time and again. Maybe a night in solitary will make you realize how good you’ve had it here.”

“Kaspian,” Nox interjects.

But I ignore him.

I’m too pissed off to debate this decision.

Ihatelying. He knows that. Bane does as well. They both witnessed firsthand how I deal with liars last year, too. Fallon should be thankful that a night in solitary is all I’m threatening her with.

“Wow. Fate really thought you and I would be well matched?” Fallon huffs a humorless laugh. “If I needed proof, I have it now.”

“Proof of what?” I demand, ignoring her comment aboutfate. Mostly because it hit me a bit in the chest, the reminder of what we are to each other leaving me uneasy.

Mates.

And I just threatened my mate with solitary.

Because she doesn’t find me worthy of the truth.

A growl works its way into my throat, but I don’t release it. Instead, I tighten my hold on Fallon, more furious with her than ever before.

We were so close to finally being open with each other, but she chose lies instead of confiding in me.

She’s never going to trust me. She’s never going to understand how much I value trust—both ways—in a relationship, either.

Because she’s impossible.

However, she’s right about one thing—fate definitely has this wrong.

We arenotmeant to be mates.

“It doesn’t matter,” she mutters. “That comment was for me, not for you.”

My brow furrows as I try to recall what we were talking about.