Page 52 of Chasing the Night

Damn him!

“Are you going to burn me, too?” I quietly asked.

He glanced up without bothering to raise his head and shrugged idly, “I don’t want to. But what I want and how difficult you ladies make it, is always two different matters entirely.”

I threw the bread on the cot and grabbed the bar while I sipped. “What does that even mean…”

“It means I don’t want to brand you, so stop trying to make me.”

I wasn’t sure how to respond, so I didn’t, I stared at him until he continued.

“Atticus has his heart set on that woman’s position. She will meet her end one way or another, but it will not be through the abuse of my power.”

“Is that what you’re telling yourself?” I asked, before thinking the better of it.

“It is the truth, he was already drawing contracts with Nayana’s son.”

“Contracts for what?” I stamped my hand on the bars, quickly growing frustrated.

“For you. Contracts for you to be unioned off. To be the Princess of Rochambeau, so to speak.” he exclaimed, with irritation and impatience. “You have to think—” he said while fumbling with keys and opening the cage door— “five steps ahead of Atticus or you will end up six feet below him.”

I slowly made my way out of the door he held open.

“Chalice,” he whispered, grabbing my upper arm and forcing me to face him. “Do not allow Atticus to think less of you.”