I panted, sprawled on top of Rhys in the snow while he laughed hoarsely. “Don’t,” I snarled into his face, “ever,” I pushed his rock-hard shoulders, talons curving at my fingertips, “use me as bait again.”
He stopped laughing.
I pushed harder, those nails digging in through his leather. “You said I could be a weapon—teach me to become one. Don’t use me like a pawn. And if being one is part of my work for you, then I’m done. Done.”
Despite the snow, his body was warm beneath me, and I wasn’t sure I’d realized just how much bigger he was until our bodies were flush— too close. Much, much too close.
Rhys cocked his head, loosening a chunk of snow clinging to his hair. “Fair enough.”
I shoved off him, snow crunching as I backed away. My talons were gone.
He hoisted himself up onto his elbows. “Do it again. Show me how you did it.”
“No.” The candle he’d brought now lay in pieces, half-buried under the snow. “I want to go back to the chateau.” I was cold, and tired, and he’d …
His face turned grave. “I’m sorry.”
I wondered how often he said those two words. I didn’t care.
I waited while he uncoiled to his feet, brushing the snow off him, and held out a hand.
It wasn’t just an offer.
You forgot, he’d said. I had.
“Why does the King of Hybern want me? Because he knows I can nullify the Cauldron’s power with the Book?”
Darkness flickered, the only sign of the temper Rhysand had once again leashed. “That’s what I’m going to find out.”
You stopped fighting.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated, hand still outstretched. “Let’s eat breakfast, then go home.”
“Velaris isn’t my home.”
I could have sworn hurt flashed in his eyes before he spirited us back to my family’s house.
