I went hot all over, staring at the back of his head. I tried a different tactic.
“You need to loosen up, Lonan.”
He stiffened, coming to a halt and turning to shoot daggers at me.
“I do.”
“Oh yeah?” I leaned against the tree we’d been passing and reached up to grab a thin branch, pulling it down towards me. “Like how?”
Lonan silently watched me strip the small leaves from the branch. “What?”
“What do you do to loosen up?” I smirked at him.
In the faint light, I could have sworn I saw his cheeks flush. “None of your business.”
“Does that mean it’s embarrassing?” I asked in a mock-understanding voice.
Lonan straightened up, taking a threatening step closer. “No, it means it’s none of your business.”
“So you don’t find fighting fun? I thought you killed people. I thought that wasallyou did. Kill whoever your mother orders you to.”
The muscle ticked in his jaw. I didn’t even know why I was goading him this much. I didn’tlikefighting. I didn’t want to fight him—he’d surely hurt me even if he still pulled his punches. But I was angry and embarrassed at the thought of being tricked. Being laughed at behind my back. Especially by him.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he gritted out, hands clenching into fists.
“I do.” I gave him a falsely sweet smile. “I’ve heard all about you. The assassin son who hates everyone. Who skulks about, murdering unsuspecting Folk for his mother.”
“You are an idiot if you believe a word from any of their mouths. Even your precious gancanagh.”
My brows shot up at that, but heat spread up my throat as I let the branch slip free and spring back up. “Don’t call me that.”
“Don’t act like one then.”
“I don’t believe them,” I blurted before I could stop myself, hating the fact that I desperately wanted him to know that I wasn’t totally stupid and gullible. “I don’t believe anyone. Not even Caom. I don’t trust any of you.”
“So you’re not a total idiot then,” he said flatly. Rage flared.
“Stop calling me that,” I gritted out.
“Stop being one then.” Lonan sounded just as furious as I felt. “Start paying attention. Startthinkinginstead of just going through the motions. You’re here for a reason, but you haven’t even bothered to start thinking about what that reason is.”
Where had that come from? A distant part of my brain registered his words and realised he was right, but I was too angry to care.
“Maybe Icouldstart if you didn’t all talk in fucking riddles all the time! Or try and trick me. Or try and get something from me.” I reached up and yanked the chain out from beneath my shirt. “And I have this now. Yourfavour. Maybe I’ll justmakeyou tell me everything.”
Lonan’s eyes narrowed, jaw clenching so hard the muscle jumped in his cheek. “Do it then. Try it. Take the coward’s way out. But it won’t work. And you will waste your favour.”
“I’m not a fucking coward.”
“Hiding away in your cottage. Already going through the motions. Not even trying to shed your mortal skin.”
“How do you know I haven’t been trying?” I burst out. “Do you watch meall the time?Do you sit there and spy on me in the cottage all fucking day and night?”
He was breathing hard as he stared at me, black eyes wild.
“Do you want to fuck the kelpie?” The accusation exploded from him. “Is that why you keep visiting the lakes?”
“What?” I blinked at him. “What’s that got—No. I don’t.”