Page 82 of A Taste of Torment
I shrug. He steps closer and reaches out to touch my cheek with his thumb the way he does. I close my eyes.
“I’m sorry,” he whispers. “I’ve been a bit off since—well, what you told me last night. I would have done things differently if I’d known, and I can’t stop thinking about it all.” He shakes his head. “It’s not an excuse. You shouldn’t have had to come here alone. That was stupid. And I’m sorry for ditching you this morning; I really didn’t remember.”
I nod. He leans in, pressing his forehead to mine. He grips my hand and curls his fingers through mine.
“I want you to feel safe here. That’s important to me.”
I’m not though, am I? Maybe I was beginning to feel something, but that was stupid too. I’m here for a purpose. I have a plan. I’m not here to reconnect with an old friend. While part of me is happy to have the chance to get to know him again, to learn he wasn’t as gone as I thought, I can’t let it derail me.
“I do really want to go to the library.”
“How about a drink first? A chai, or maybe change it up with a cinnamon cider? It’s the potionist’s signature recipe for fall.”
I force my lips into a smile. “Cider sounds good.”
His shoulders relax. Our fingers stay interlaced as we walk together toward the speakeasy. He quickly pours us two glasses of cinnamon apple cider from the thermos container, and then we sit at one of the open tables.
I fidget with the glass.
“Is that really all?” His voice is hoarse.
“I’m not sure we’re doing a very good job convincing people we’re a real couple,” I spit out. Which maybe was a stupid thing to say, but it’s what came to mind.
He leans back, surprised. “What makes you say that?”
“Just something…” I pause. I probably shouldn’t tell him this. I can’t imagine it going over very well.
“Something what?”
“Something someone said.”
His nostrils flare. “Who?”
I wave him off. “It’s fine,” I say quickly. “People talk. In Minor Hall, some people were talking about how it’s weird you haven’t bitten me yet. I don’t care about that. I really don’t.”
“But that’s not all,” he says, his voice a low rumble. “Tell me.”
I roll my eyes. “There were some wolves at the entrance to Elite Hall.”
His muscles tense.
“A wolf boy made a comment about you leaving me alone. Can he have a turn.” I bite my lip.
A growl rips from his lips, and I jerk back.
“Jarron,” I say quickly, but he’s already on his feet.“Jarron, stop please.”
He turns back to me, his eyes fully black like the last time. “No,” he says calmly. “Not this time. Maybe he’s right that I shouldn’t have left you alone, but it’s still a challenge to me. I cannot let it stand, not when it comes to you.”
My heart skips a beat.
“Do you know his name? It’ll make this a lot simpler and save a lot of wolves pain if you do.”
I frown. I don’t want to throw some wolf under the bus, but if he means it—that he’s not letting this go and he’s going to tear through all the shifters here until he figures it out—then it’s better if I concede now.
“If I tell you, you have to promise not to do any real harm.” I cross my arms. That’s my stand. “Scare him. Threaten him. But nothing more.”
He clenches his jaw but then bows his head. “Fine.” He’s not happy about the concession, but he’s willing. I’ll take it.
