Page 89 of The Night Prince

“I was helpless,” I say. “I hate myself for it.”

Do as he says.I push away Callum’s voice.

I don’t know why, but my next shameful secret spills from my lips. “I’ve started to hate my mother too, because she was helpless, as well. How did she not know she was being poisoned? Why did she not try to escape?”

Blake tucks in the end of the gauze. “Wolves guard things that are high value to them.”

“You think she was trying to protect me?”

“Perhaps.”

I pull my wrist back, and study my bandaged palm. “It doesn’t matter now. It’s all in the past. I’m tired, I think. I’m not sure why I said all that.” I force a smile. “Ignore me.”

“No.”

Amid the darkness, a spark flickers. “What do you mean?”

“I cannot ignore you. Those that taught you to act small were fools. You don’t need to do that with me.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “We are not friends, Blake. You made sure of that when you linked our lives and decided you would plot to kill Callum.”

“No. We’re enemies, aren’t we?” His gold-flecked eyes glint in the firelight. “And one day, we will face one another as such. When the time comes, I want all of you. I want you to throw everything you have at me. I want a glorious defeat.”

“A glorious defeat.” I shake my head, because I know he’s mocking me. “You’re one to speak, Blake.”

“What do you mean?”

“You say I act small, but what of you? You told me once that you were always pretending. You’re hiding something.”

“When the time comes, little rabbit, I will give you everything I have. I promise.” He stands, and puts his things on the table. “Your wound should be healed by tomorrow morning. Come back to me if it isn’t.”

“What are you going to do about Ian?”

“If I find him, he will die. He didn’t come back to Lowfell after you were kidnapped. I’m guessing he ran away. If he’s smart, he will not cross my path again.”

“Thank you.”

I get up and cross the room. I pick the book up from the end of his bed, and my fingers brush over his silky sheets. I expect him to stop me from taking it, but he rights his armchair by the window and drops into it.

I reach the door, then face him. “Are we going to talk about what happened last night?”

“What do you mean?”

“You...”You kissed me. Took a bullet for me. Callum is acting strangely because of it.“You know what I mean.”

He leans forward and clasps his hands between his thighs. “Do youwantto talk about it?”

“I. . .”Do I?

Blake is a snake. A pest. A monster. He plots against Callum, and uses me to do so. He has hurt people, killed people,torturedpeople. He talks of consent and coercion, yet he linked our lives together against my will. He is a liar. A manipulator. A cheat. Yet it occurs to me that he can be all of these things and still hold a shred of compassion toward me. He can be all of these things and... want me.

James certainly seemed to think so. Why else would he have put us through all of that? Why would Callum have been bothered by it?

I exhale. “Perhaps not.”

Firelight and shadow flicker across his solemn expression. “Let me know when you do,” he says.

Chapter Thirty-Eight

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