Page 40 of Twisted Fate

She rolls her eyes. “Well, now she’s annoying.” She shoves me hard, narrowing her eyes at me. “What the hell makes you so special?”

I grit my teeth, my shoulder blades throbbing from being pinned against the wall. “What’s it to you? God, don’t tell me you’re jealous?” If I’m being harassed in an elevator because this chick has the hots for Tristan, I swear to—

The woman grabs my face, digging her fingers into my skin. “Say another word, and I’ll steal every living emotion you’ve got.”

My head starts spinning, the woman’s voice echoing around me. This bitch is feeding on me, and I can’t move a muscle to do anything about it.

“Easy there,” the man says. “If Tristan is keeping her around, I doubt he’ll take too kindly to you killing her.”

Dying in an elevator isn’t something I had planned for today.

“Whatever,” she snaps, finally backing off. She slams her fist against the emergency stop again, making the elevator continue its ascent, and I stand there frozen until they get off a couple of floors later without another word. When the door slides shut, I let out a breath and tip my head back against the wall. I spend the rest of the ride trying to shake off the odd, forced calmness in my muscles.

Arriving at the twentieth floor, I step off the elevator and freeze when I see Max sitting behind the reception desk.

He glances up as I approach and smirks. “Morning, blondie. Is that coffee for me?”

“Not a chance. What are you doing out here? Boss man got you working the phones today?”

His eyes narrow. “Boss man? I’m sure he’d love you calling him that.”

Shaking my head, I blow out a breath as I turn away and step toward the office doors. I drop my things at my temporary spot and make my way to Tristan’s office. I knock a few times before letting myself in.

Tristan is sitting behind his desk having an animated conversation with someone on his phone. I take a seat on the couch while I drink my coffee and wait for him to finish. I tap my fingers against the side of my cup and stare at the unlit fireplace, debating whether I should tell him what happened on my way up here. I’m quick to decide against it, noting the dark look on his face. I try not to eavesdrop, but the tone of his voice is sharp and agitated. The Tristan I’m used to is the image of self-control, so hearing him this way is unsettling. His hair looks as if he’s run his fingers through it about ten times too many, and his tie is pulled away from his collar.

Tristan is sitting across the room, but I feel him everywhere. How could I have forgotten what that was like? That constant presence...it’s not all that unpleasant anymore, which makes my head spin.

I glance away when he catches me watching him.

He joins me once he’s off the phone and sits on the couch across from me. “Good morning,” he says in his normal, smooth voice.

“Morning.” I look over at him and bite my lip.

“What is that?” he asks, a sharpness latching onto his tone. It makes my pulse jump.

My forehead creases in confusion. “What?”

Before I can shift away, his hand is tilting my face to the side, his fingers brushing along my jaw. I wince at the stabbing pain that follows his touch. He drops his hand and pins me with a dark stare. “What happened?”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “Nothing. It’s fine.”

“You want to play this game, Aurora? Really?”

I scowl. “I’m not playing any game. I just know it’s not worth talking about. I can take care of myself.”

“Clearly,” he remarks, his brows tugged closer as if he’s disappointed that I’m not confiding in him.

I huff out a breath and grab his hand, lifting it to my face until his fingertips are pressed against the spot where the fae woman dug her nails into my skin. “Heal it so we can move on, will you?”

“Now you’re asking—?”

“Yes,” I cut in, still holding his hand against my face.

He shifts closer, which is unnecessary, sending my heart racing. “Tell me what happened, and I’ll be happy to help.”

My eyes snap to his. “Are you kidding me?”

He holds my gaze. “I need to know what goes on in my hotel, Aurora, so you can tell me, or I can find out on my own.”

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