Her pulse fluttered.“Dead on arrival.”Meal forgotten, she reached up and grazed the ruby with the pad of a finger. “That’s my company motto.”
His gaze followed the action and heated. “Funny. This Astra has never felt more alive.”
Yes. They had definitely switched. “What do you want from me, Rue? No, don’t answer that.” She had a solo query left, and she had to make it count. What should she demand to know?
Thinking...
Oh! Here was something sure to ruin the mood and educate her about his physiology at the same time. “Why did youralevalakill the shifter?”
He shrugged. “My memories are tainted. In fact, you are never to peer at myalevala.”
Big tell. Huge! What part of his past didn’t he want her to see? Unless...
She gulped. Was he concerned about her well-being? “I feel cheated. You’re gonna have to elaborate and tell me why your memories are tainted.”
“Because I am tainted.” A flat statement. He clearly believed what he’d said with every fiber of his being.
Why would he think that? “Are you tainted because of all the fated mates you’ve killed during your battles to obtain a blessing?” Petty of her, yes, but a girl had to use the weapons at her disposal.
A tinge of color dotted his cheeks. “Couldn’t the same be asked of you? How many mated ones have you slain?”
The food she’d consumed settled like lead in her stomach. He wasn’t wrong. But as soon as she affirmed the truth, that yes, she had killed many fated mates on the battlefield, Roux would want to know how she could turn around and blame him for his actions. And he would have a point. But grief was an insatiable beast that fed on pain, and it didn’t care about points.
“Ask your final question,” she told him, swiping a sugar cookie from a tray. Though she was no longer hungry, the sweet treat helped sooth her nerves.
Roux’s study of her intensified. “Why are you able to function after the death of your consort, when other harpies cannot?” The fact that he used the softest, gentlest tone—a tone she should never, ever hear from someone like him—made the impact of his words a thousand times worse.
Then. That moment. The easy exchange was utterly obliterated. She bolted to her feet, her chair skidding behind her. The cookie splattered on the floor.
“What are you implying?” she demanded, wings buzzing.
“Oh, yes. I’m curious, too.” A feminine voice filled the room, startling and unwelcome.
Blythe found the culprit with her gaze and scowled. Penelope splayed on the bed, her head propped onto an upraised palm. She’d selected the same redheaded bombshell guise as before, with a much sexier outfit. No firstone dagger in sight.
“Well, this is awkward,” the wraith said. “Not the jubilant reception I expected. But please, do continue. I’m enjoying myself immensely.”
11
THE MENACE
And the threats keep coming.
“Take a seat and be quiet, girl,” the intruder commanded. “Your superiors need to have a grown-up conversation.”
Shock held Roux immobile for two heartbeats as Blythe paled and obeyed, stumbling back and plopping into her chair, no longer as graceful as a ballerina. Black flooded her eyes, and croaked sounds left her. Attempting to hurl curses at the invader? Though she fought her position, she remained seated.
He catalogued several thoughts at once. The sight of the harphantom’s weakness did something to him. Roused a hidden protective instinct he’d never known he possessed. A wraith had entered his private bedroom without his knowledge. She wielded some kind of control over his harphantom, making her the one who’d applied the ruby. A certain enemy who’d accomplished the impossible by sneaking up on him without alerting his defenses. How?
He’d sensed no hint of aggression from her. Or perhaps hehadsensed something but his desire for Blythe masked it. So much desire. White-hot. Blistering. How did she continue to touch him without inciting pain or irritation?
He’d been seconds away from yanking her into his lap and pressing his lips to hers.
He would have kissed her. Tasted her.
He still wanted to.
The wraith might have saved him from making an unforgivable mistake, but he planned to kill her regardless.