Page 78 of The Darkness Within Us

He looks down to where my gaze is. “No.”

“Then what is it?”

He cannot come up with a single lie, and it’s foolish to even try. What could possibly be mistaken for blood?

“Are you hurt?” I ask.

“No, it’s not mine.”

I don’t know if that’s better or worse.

“Where have you been?”

“The men’s room.”

“At least that’s a better lie.”

His whole body tenses.

“Stop that,” I say. “Focus on getting yourself under control. Then we can leave.”

“I can’t,” he says through his teeth. “I still want to kill him.”

“Don’t think about him. Think about me. Focus on the dance.”

A few couples finally notice Barlas and help him off the dance floor. If anyone suspects what really happened to him, they don’t approach us. At least the earl has the good sense not to accuse a duke.

“This”—Eryx pauses—“actually isn’t horrible.”

“And why would dancing be horrible?”

“Most people don’t usually enjoy things they’re not good at.”

“I think you and I can both agree that you are certainly not anywhere close tomost people.”

Eryx takes a deep breath through his nose. “You’re very good at distracting me.”

“Better than Argus and Dyson?”

“Much.”

“What do they usually do when you shift?”

He starts to say something, then catches himself, as though remembering he’s talking to me.

“Eryx, your eyes are still blazing. We need to get you calm.”

“How the hell am I supposed to be calm when I handed you off to a man who—”

“Because you know I will make you suffer for it. When we get home, I’m going to make you wish you’d never met me.”

He smiles. “I don’t doubt it.” Then his face falls. “You must know I had no idea. I didn’t think anything bad could happen in such a public place.”

“That’s because you don’t know all the tricks men pull in public places and get away with. How would you? They don’t try that kind of stuff on those who have the strength to fight them off.”

Eryx’s eyes blaze brighter, and I look around to see if anyone has noticed. We’re safe for now, but he really needs to stop.

“No one,” he says, “no oneis going to touch you like that again. I will make sure of it.”

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