Page 63 of The Call of Crimson
We both burst out laughing.
I drop the dagger from his groin, returning it to him, and follow as he leads me to the library. “Do you know who Aurelius’ mother is?”
“In theory.”
“Are you going to share that theory?”
He smirks. “Now, what would be the fun in that?”
“Do you answer everything with a question?”
He laughs, low and maddeningly smug. “Do you?”
“Infuriating male,” I grumble under my breath.
“Here we are,” Ayden announces as he pushes open the library doors with a flourish.
Stepping inside, I blink at the sheer size of it, endless rows of books tower up well above my head. Tall windows illuminate the space, casting a soft afternoon light on the leather-bound tomes that fill the shelves. It smells of parchment, the familiar scent grounding me.
“I think you’ll find some of the answers you’re looking for here,” Ayden says.
“To which questions?”
He only shrugs, sliding his hands into his pockets like a male without a single care in the world.
“Not only are you infuriating, but you’re also insufferable,” I mutter.
He ignores my jab. “Rowina will join you shortly.”
“And where exactly are you going?”
“Well, thanks to Aurelius, I have quite the situation to work through.” He gives me a look that’s pure sin. “Unless you wanted to help me with that?”
“Ew, Ayden,” I groan. “I didn’t need that picture in my head.”
“Doing what?” he asks innocently. “Training with Darian?”
Despite myself, my cheeks flame in embarrassment. “Fuck off, Ayden.”
“I’m trying, but your riveting conversation skills are keeping me here.”
“Ugh,” I say, throwing my arms into the air.
“If you need to work off any energy, feel free to join Darian and me for training later.”
“Or don’t,” Darian adds, suddenly appearing behind Ayden, looking thoroughly displeased.
“Don’t worry,General,” I purr. “I prefer training with males who can actually challenge me.”
The self-satisfied look on my face is wiped clean when Darian snaps, “Intellectually or physically? Actually, don’t answer that. Neither is truly a challenge.”
Before I realize it, a shadow dagger flies from my fingertips, aiming straight for his throat. It hits the library door behind him instead when he vanishes and reappears behind me, a hand wrapping around my throat.
I grin wickedly at the pressure. Not enough to truly hurt, just enough to set every nerve alight. Chuckling low, I whisper, “Harder, General.”
An exaggerated moan leaves my lips, and I feel his body tense behind mine.
Darian jerks away from me like he’s been burned, his hand flexing as if to shake off the feel of me. “What iswrong with you?”
