Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121924 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 610(@200wpm)___ 488(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
“You’ve fucked him,” she repeated, sure. “When did this happen?”
I spluttered. “It didn’t.”
“I can always sniff out a lie. I’ve told you, there’s no fooling the Master of Deceit,” she said, proudly placing a hand on her chest. “Now cough up the goods. When did it happen? Was it when you shared a room at the bunker?”
I sighed, feeling my shoulders slump. I could keep denying it, but there was little point. She wasn’t going to let it go, nor would she second guess herself at this juncture.
“Yes,” I eventually answered. “The second time.”
Her eyes bulged. “It’s happened more than once?” Eagerness dancing over her face, she planted a hand on the table. “When did you two first do the dirty? Tell me.”
“When we were camping and slept in the same tent.”
She gawked. “This is extra. I can’t believe—wait, that happened weeks ago. How could you not have shared it with me, your best friend in the whole entire world?”
I tossed her an impatient look. “I’ve known you for, like, a month.” We’d grown up in the same settlement but never spoken during that time.
“Thirty-seven days, to be exact. But some people become besties in an instant. That happened with us.”
“Then why did you tell Nakoa she was your best friend?” I challenged, feeling my lips quirk.
“That was last week. A lot can change in that space of time.”
“But you just said that you and I instantly became—”
“Stop picking at words.” She tugged on the sleeve of my tunic. “Why didn’t you tell me about you and Talon?”
“I’m telling you now.”
“Under duress.”
I rubbed at the corner of my brow. “I don’t want anyone to know—too many people would twist it; insinuate I thought it would help get me a place in the Order.” I grabbed my tankard again. “He doesn’t want anyone to know either. Acts like it hasn’t happened. Not flattering.”
“Maybe so, but that he broke his no-sex-with-candidates rule for you? Flattering.”
“Doesn’t change that he seems to begrudge having broken it.”
“Which didn’t stop him from doing it twice,” she pointed out, raising her index finger.
“I can see you’re hopeful this means something. It doesn’t. It won’t matter whether I’m a candidate or an officiate, he’ll still behave like it didn’t happen. He admitted as much when I accused him of that and he didn’t deny it.”
Frowning, she sat back in her seat. “That doesn’t make any sense. Why would he want to hide it?”
“I don’t know if it’s a matter of hiding it or just not wanting to acknowledge it,” I replied before taking another sip of my drink. “I told him not to touch me again unless he was willing to stop being so weird about it. I refuse to be someone’s dirty secret.”
Realization dawned over her face. “Ah. He doesn’t like that you’ve withdrawn your interest despite not wanting to do something about your little attraction. I suppose it isn’t surprising that he wouldn’t take kindly to you trying to tune it out. Who would?”
So done talking about him, I said, “On another note, Bevan warned me that I need to watch my back.”
Her brows snapped together, anger stirring in her gaze. “He threatened you?”
“No, he gave me a heads-up that he thinks Atticus might do something dumb.”
“Which would be highly characteristic of the little shit,” she pointed out. “If he tries anything, I will personally fuck him up.”
“If he tries anything, he’ll be dead.” I’d take him out before anyone else had the chance—it’d be a matter of self-defense, so I wouldn’t be punished for it.
She straightened in her seat, her expression brightening. “Now let’s get back to the topic of Talon.”
I grimaced. “Um, let’s not.”
“But I have questions about his bedroom habits. Lots and lots of questions.”
“Sounds like your issue.”
Her brow puckered. “Oh come on, my curiosity needs satisfying.”
“Again, sounds like your issue.”
“Just be a dear and spill all. Enquiring minds want—no, need—to know.”
“Once more, this seems to be a you issue.”
Huffing, she crossed her arms. “I just want to note that you are the worst best friend ever.”
“How do you know? We’re not best friends.”
“We so are,” she insisted.
“Nakoa’s yours. You said so yourself.”
Her lips thinned. “Are you just going to keep throwing that in my face to make me feel bad?”
“Does it make you feel bad?”
“Not a whole lot, no. I’m torn between you and Nakoa. It hurts. Hurts. But I’d feel so much better if you just told me—”
“No.”
Her arms flopped to her lap. “Like I said, worst bestie ever.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Crouched on the tack room floor the next morning, I twirled my finger sideways at the little pup in front of me. Riot obediently did a smooth roll along the floor. Grinning, I praised, “Good boy.”
He predictably leaped at me, his tongue lolling out, his tail wagging.
I stroked him, spouting more words of praise. The pup, who’d been named Riot by Ajax, routinely visited me now. He’d not only woken me this morning by enthusiastically licking at my face, he’d danced around me while I dressed—attacking my clothes like he was competing with them for my focus.