Page 80 of Night In His Eyes

He snarled something in my ear and then cool air caressed my skin as he rolled off me. I opened my eyes, and after a moment sat up.

Renaud was halfway across the room, back to me, his hands fists at his sides. I stared at him, baffled, catching my balance as I stumbled out of the bed.

“Renaud?”

“I am no fool, Aerinne. If I take you now, you will never forgive me.”

I didn’t think my forgiveness was the problem he thought it was, all things considered.

“Your family is concerned,” he said in the moon bathed bedroom. “Go to them now.”

I hesitated, but as he turned back to me, all the warmth and amusement and sensuality sucked away into a black hole until the male standing before me was the glacial, contained statue I’d first laid eyes on. No emotion, offering me nothing, as if he'd flipped a switch and shut it all away.

Swallowing, I bowed, then straightened and walked to the door, mostly steady. One Vow happy and quiescent around my neck because inaction was the very definition of what I’d agreed, the other a curse waiting to wrench off my head. Snapping and growling at my feet, the kind of ticking time bomb that was going to drive me insane.

Insane enough I might just slit my own throat and be done with it.

I couldn’t make Renaud kill me. Not anymore. Attacking him with intent to end his life would be exactly that. Forcing his hand. I no longer quite believed killing me wouldn’t hurt him.

I no longerquitebelieved all of Nora’s cautions.

The Old One’s felt no regret, no remorse. The Old One’s did not love. The High Lords killed their pets rather than let them go.

I wasn’t sure what I believed anymore.

“Aerinne.”

I stopped.

“This is only a temporary reprieve, my halfling. Enjoy your cold bed these few remaining days. I am not Prince of Everenne because I am merciful. I will come for you soon.”