She merely nods at me, "I’ll see you later, Karma." She walks over to the doorway and he steps aside to let her pass.
He prowls over to pull up a chair opposite me. "You aren’t eating."
"Neither are you," I retort.
"I ate already."
I lean back in my chair, "Why did you bring me here?"
"How’s your head?" He rakes his gaze across my features, "No headache or anything?"
"I’m good," I say grudgingly, "and you are avoiding the question."
He quirks his mouth, "I’ll make you a trade."
"Huh?"
"One answer to one question that you can ask me for every mouthful of food."
"It’s a terrible deal." I purse my lips.
"How do you know without trying it?"
"Sometimes you don’t need to try to know you are being set up." I scowl at him, then glance down at the pancakes. My stomach grumbles. My mouth waters. Damn it, they look so good. I pick up my knife and fork, cut a piece and raise it to my lips. I chew on it, then tip up my chin, "So, will you answer my question now? Why did you bring me here?"
"That's two questions," he retorts. "Also, it’s safest for you here."
"You mean because you can keep me prisoner?"
He stares at me, looks down at the plate, then back at me.
Yeah, yeah, whatever. I cut into the pancake again, pop it inside my mouth, then glance at him."
"I brought you here to ensure that no one can get to you."
I shoot him an icy look, "So youarekeeping me prisoner?"
"Does it look like you are a prisoner here?" He raises his hands, "You are free to come and go as you wish."
"A gilded cage is still a cage."
He tilts his head, "Not if you’re safer within the walls than outside."
"Is that what you think?" I scoff, "That I am safer inside here?" I shovel more of the pancake inside my mouth.
"Considering the last time you managed to find a way out, probably not." His lips quirk, "It’s why I have taken certain precautions."
"Precautions?" I narrow my gaze, "What precautions?"
"There’s still time to discuss that." He nods at my plate, "Finish your food."
I scowl at the remnants of the food on my plate, "I am full."
"Only one more bite," he coaxes me. "Come on, you can do it."
I blow out a breath, "Oh, okay." I scoop up the last mouthful, chew on it, swallow. "Happy?" I place my knife and spoon in the plate.
"Finish your juice."