Page 83 of The Darkness Within Us

“Pull yourself together before one of the groundskeepers sees you.”

Eryx blinks, then slams his eyes closed, concentrating. The horns shrink until they disappear beneath his skin, like swords sheathing. His ears turn from pointed to round. His canines retract. When he opens his eyes, they’re still amber, though no longer glowing.

“So that’s it, then?” I ask, continuing the conversation. “No progress today? We’re exactly as we were twenty minutes ago?”

Eryx says in a gentle voice, “I’m so sorry for how you were treated by my grandfather. It wasn’t right. It was an abuse of power, and I hope he burns in one of the devils’ hells for it. But just because one man behaved that way, it doesn’t mean that all men—”

“Do. Not. Finish. That. Sentence.”

His eyes narrow at my tone.

A mirthless laugh escapes me. “You want me to put my trust in another man? Just hope that the next one won’t abuse his power?Iwant to be the one with the power: the power to remove myself from those who treat me poorly, the power to protect myself, the power to always make my own decisions about my body and my life. Neither you nor anyone else can put a price on that freedom. So you and your twenty thousand necos can leave me the hell alone.”

There is a prominent silence in the wake of my words.

Eryx, for once, seems to be rendered speechless. We stare at each other, my breaths coming out quickly from the force with which I delivered that little speech.

When Eryx drops his gaze, he says, “You deserve that power. Of course you do. I’m sorry that I cannot give up mine for your sake. I need it right now.”

“I hate you,” I whisper.

He hears it, but I don’t wait for his response. I leave, and this time, he does not follow.

ITAKE THE REST OFthe day to cool down. Something happens to me when I’m near him. I lose all reason and turn into a chaotic mess of rage.

I messed up. I’m supposed to be slowly charming him, yet I exploded on him. I told him I hated him, which is true, but not conducive to seducing him.

There has to be a way to get him to trust me. At the very least I need to catch him off guard. Eryx doesn’t get to have the upper hand again. I’m sick of him parading into my personal space whenever he wishes. I need to go to the one place where we’ll be on even footing.

Or, better yet, where I might just have the high ground.

Testing a theory, I take a blanket with me to the library that night. The last time I dozed in this room, I dreamed of Eryx. More than that, hevisitedmy dream somehow. Or I was in his. Either way, it seemed to bother him. Must be terrible to have someone else insert themselves into your safe space.

I curl up on the settee and will myself to sleep.

Of course, it takes hours, because even my own body is conspiring against me.

But when I’m finally in blissful darkness, it happens. My eyes open to a room outlined by fluffy white clouds. I bend down to scoop at them, but nothing comes off the floor into my palm. Shrugging, I make my way over to the bed.

I debate the best way to do this part. I’m sorely tempted to rip the sheets from him so I can finally catch a glimpse of that tail, but it feels like a line that should not be crossed. Sighing, I settle for kicking at the mattress.

Eryx jolts awake, as fully transformed as the last time we met like this.

“Not again,” he groans.

“Afraid so,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. “We need to have a chat.”

“We just had one a few hours ago.”

“Well, I want another one.”

Eryx looks over the side of the bed, as though hoping his clothing will materialize. No such luck. It must be out of the dream’s range.

What a pity that fully muscled chest will have to stay on display.

“You could tuck the blankets under your chin to preserve your modesty,” I offer.

He glares at me. “Talk. Then be on your way.”

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