Page 88 of Storm of Shadows

I don’t have to open it. If I don’t, she’ll probably turn around and walk away, relieved she isn’t required to spend another moment in our company.

But I know what Beaufort’s seen. This is our destiny. And I, more than anyone, should know, you can’t argue with fate. No matter how strong your powers are. No matter how hard your heart is.

I open the door.

Her pretty green eyes land on me and she jolts.

All my worst fears are confirmed. She’s repelled by me.

I flex my hands involuntarily and my magic pulses in the air. She takes a step backwards.

“I … I came as instructed,” she says, trying to sound tough, but I hear the tremble in her throat. I don’t just disgust her. She’s afraid of me too.

I nod. Then I turn and walk back down the hallway. Behind me, I hear her hesitate, then follow me inside, the door clicking shut.

I don’t know what I’m meant to do with her. I peer across at the lounge and then at the kitchen.

The thing doesn’t have a lot of meat on her. They say the food in Slate Quarter is worse than pig feed.

I swerve into the kitchen and wait against the wall.

She follows me inside.

“Are you locking me in the kitchen again tonight?” she says, tossing her head in annoyance.

I have no self control. I let my gaze roam down her body, down her fragile neck, to the baggy gray uniform that swamps her frame. I can’t help but imagine what she looks like under those layers. The only hint of it is the flash of bare thigh, her skin there smooth and soft looking.

I press my body into the wall as I ball my hands into tight fists.

She harrumphs to herself and drops down into one of the kitchen chairs.

“I can see this is going to be another entertaining evening.” She rests her elbows down on the table and leans forward, taking me in. “I don’t understand why the hell you keep dragging me here. Especially seeing as you so clearly don’t want me here.”

I stare back at her, not saying a word.

A crease forms between her brows. “I also don’t get why you pulled that little stunt in front of everyone out on the field. Why you said the stuff you did.” She tucks her legs under the table, crossing them over at the ankles. She’s so small, so tiny. I could crush her in my fist. “Was it a power thing?”

I slip my hands behind my back and force my palms against the cold wall.

She sighs. “If you hate me so much, can’t you talk the other two out of this stupid situation? You don’t want it,” my magic bores into the wall, the plaster cracking behind me, “and neither do I. We could work together. Help each other out.”

She examines my face and waits for an answer. My magic crackles and pulsates. Her eyes on my face is the closest thing I’ll ever get to her touch.

She sighs again and flops back into her chair.

“Can I just go, please? There is no point in me staying.”

When I don’t tell her no, she stands slowly to her feet as if any second she expects me to slam her down in her chair. Then with caution, watching me with a puzzled expression, she ventures towards the door.

She’s a foot away from me when she passes, close enough for me to reach out and touch her, to hold her. I tense every part of my body. The shadows crash with rage around my veins, my magic hisses angrily and she must feel it in the air, must hear it, because she frowns in displeasure.

“Be back here again on Saturday,” I tell her.

She stops. “Seriously?”

My face shows how serious I am.

“Whatever,” she murmurs and then she’s gone.