It hit me that despite being a world-traveler, a professor, and a highly-respected expert in her field, Leonora Ophidia had no fucking clue.
And it wasn’t right. I couldn’t fix it, or help her understand, but gods, it made her that much more appealing.
So, like I had earlier, I didn’t respond. “I’ll walk you home.” Taking her hand in mine, I tugged. And reluctantly, she followed.
Leo
The smart thing to do was put my foot down and demand Pollux leave. I was sick of being a joke and tired of trying to figure him out.
But the wind had dropped to arctic levels, so rather than argue, I hurried toward my apartments.
Pollux kept up with me, which wasn’t a surprise since one of his strides was equal to two of mine.
My entire body was aware of him. Everything I did—the way I breathed to the sound of my boots on the street—made me self-conscious, and sure he must be watching and judging.
The back of my neck tingled, and I glanced at him, but he was focused ahead of us.
A chill ran down my spine, and I shivered. I hated this feeling of being wrong in my own skin.
All the things I was feeling, though, weren’t in his gaze. His lip wasn’t curled. He wasn’t glaring.
But a deep discomfort filled me.
Rolling my shoulders, I peered behind us. The street was empty of pedestrians.
A strong arm dragged me against his warm body. “Come on.” Pollux’s breath blew my hair around my temple. With a gentle push, he got me moving again.
His pace quickened. Fast enough I had trouble catching my breath.
With each step, my unease grew. Over and over, I looked over my shoulder, certain I’d find someone an arm’s length away, but there was no one.
Something was in the air, and while I’d first attributed it to Pollux, the longer we walked, the tighter his grip on my hand became.
He felt it, too. “Almost there.”
Was he angry?
No.It was worse than anger. Rage. A red mist covered my vision, and I buckled. The rage was directed at me. It swamped me like waves crashing over a boat.
Two hands went under my arms, but my legs were useless. Giving up, Pollux swung me into his arms and took off.I’d been slowing him down.
I laughed at the thought.
Pollux moved so fast, I began to doubt my own sanity.Drugs?Had someone put something in my drink?
“Murderer.”The voice was everywhere. All around me. In my head.
“Murderer.”It was one voice and a thousand.
Hatred, directed toward me. I was hated. I was the one at fault.
It was too much. I covered my ears with my hands.“Murderer.”Male. Female. I couldn’t take it.
“Enough!” It was like I stretched a rubber band too far, and it snapped.Gone.All the feeling. All the noise.
Done.
Slowly, I became aware of my surroundings. Of Pollux holding me on the stairs outside my apartment. Of his hand covering my own. Of the scent of wool, from my face buried in his jacket.