Page 70 of Empire of Flame and Thorns

I get to work.

When I’m halfway through one of the bookcases, a metallic clicking sound suddenly comes from the door. I whirl around and grab the closest hard object I can reach. Which turns out to be a book. I have just managed to raise it in a position ready to swing when the door is pulled open.

My heart jerks as Draven walks through.

Without even looking towards me, he pulls the door shut behind him and locks it again. Then he at last turns towards the bed. He stops. Blinks. Apparently surprised to not find me in the bed, he casts a stunned look around the room.

His gaze lands on me.

For a moment, no one says anything.

Then he flicks a quick glance at the book I have raised to swing with both hands. And for a second, I swear that a hint of amusement blows across his lips.

Then that arrogant expression is back on his features, and he nods towards the book. “Planning to hit me with that, are you?”

The sound of his voice yanks me out of my stupor. With a huff, I set the book down and then cross my arms over my chest instead. I wait for Draven to say something else.

He doesn’t. He only continues watching me with an expression I can’t read.

That flustered feeling in my chest falters, and the memories from last night once more flash before my eyes. I let my arms drop back down by my sides, suddenly feeling awkward and uncertain.

“You saved me,” I say, my voice coming out sounding as confused and uncertain as I feel.

The unreadable mask stays on his face as he simply replies, “Yes.”

“How?”

“I’m pretty sure you were still conscious for that part.”

“No, I mean, how did you know that I needed help?”

“It was a very loud fight.”

“No one else in our corridor heard it.”

“I have better hearing than they do.”

“But—”

“Most people just saythank youwhen someone saves their life.”

I snap my mouth shut as my cheeks flush. Because Goddess above, he’s right, isn’t he? Regardless of everything else that he has done to me, he did save my life last night.

So I swallow and then clear my throat before saying, “Thank you.”

A small smirk plays over his lips. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

I shoot him a scowl, already regretting that I ever thanked the bastard. Then my gaze flits down to the smooth skin on my forearm, where the deep cut used to be. Raising my gaze, I meet his eyes again.

“You made the leader of the Orange Dragon Clan heal me,” I say. It comes out like something halfway between a statement and a question.

Draven shrugs and then starts towards one of the closets. “Yes. I couldn’t very well have you bleeding all over my room, now could I?”

Shock hits me like a brick to the face. My mouth drops open as I just stare at him.

“This is your room?” I manage to blurt out eventually.

“Yes.”

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