“Gods dammit.”
Within seconds, Green Eyes had launched himself in the room, making her nearly jump out of her skin. “What’s wrong?”
He was looking at her side and his brow creased, probably at how much blood had seeped into the fabric. It wasn’t enough to cause her detrimental harm, but it would make her lightheaded soon if she didn’t get it wrapped.
“I—” She paused, “Wait, where’s Trey?” She wasn’t stupid enough to believe he’d leave the guard unattended outside.
“Unconscious.”
“What?!” She whisper-screamed.
“He’ll be fine. Now tell me what’s wrong?” She could see the impatience in his eyes. If she didn’t start moving, he’d likely throw her over his shoulder and sprint out like a heathen.
She looked away, fidgeting with her skirts. “I don’t wear dresses.”
“I’ve seen you in two dusing just today.”
“Yes, well, the other was the first one I’ve ever worn, and it had loose laces and made sense.” She bit her lip and looked at him, humiliated. But he just continued staring at her like the aggravating male he was.
Vera glared back at him, hoping her scowl would cover the blush crawling up her neck, “I can’t get this stupid thing off.”
His head tipped to the side, and she swore his eyes darkened before he scowled, like her comment had personally offended him. “Then how did you put it on?”
“I sneezed, and it just slipped right over me.” She placed a hand on her side, squeezing her eyes shut and sighing when he stayed silent. “I was wrestled into it by a strong-handed lady.”
“Hm.”
“Gods dammit, Green Eyes, just get this dress off me.”
His nostrils flared, and he clenched his jaw, causing the muscles to visibly tighten. Vera could only gape at him as the rest of her body caught up to what her mouth had said. She rolled her lips and spun around. She felt the heat of his stare and desperately tried to level her breathing.
Moving in that silent way of his, he was suddenly standing directly behind her. Vera fought back a shudder as he rested his fingertips at the base of her neck.
“You don’t plan on wearing this again?” His breath tickled her ear, sending a trail of gooseflesh across her skin.
“No—”
Before she could say more, his fingers dipped down and gripped the top of her bodice. In one solid movement, he ripped it in half, all the way down to the skirts. The abrupt pull against her torso caused her to lose balance, and she fell backward into his chest, hissing as it jarred her side.
His hands wrapped around her shoulders, steadying her, and she swore she felt his thumbs graze her bare skin before he twisted her to face him. She had to hold the front of the dress to her chest to keep it from falling to the floor. His eyes flicked down to where her hands were curled above her breasts, clutching the fabric, and his expression hardened, an almost palpitating fury pulsing from him.
“How did you get that scar?”
She subconsciously raised a hand and glided it over the base of her throat. His piercing eyes missed nothing and were stripping her soul with the same intimacy he had the first day they met. His pupils dilated, making his gaze even darker, and a warm sensation began to coil inside her.
“It happened a long time ago.” Thank gods her voice came out steady even while her pulse threatened to put her in an early grave.
His hands twitched, as if tempted to close the distance between them, but instead he took a large step back, his jaw clenched.
“You have two minutes before I change my mind about your guard.” Without waiting for a reply, he turned and was out of the room in a matter of seconds.
As she let the ruined dress fall in a heap at her feet, she realized with crystal clear certainty, she had no idea what the fuck she was doing.
JAREN
Double-checking the guard was still sprawled out where he’d left him, Jaren allowed his pent-up anger to rumble through his chest. He clenched and unclenched his fists, pacing in a futile attempt to cool his burning skin.
Gods dammit Green Eyes just get this dress off me.
Fuck, if her words hadn’t zeroed in and gone straight to his cock. He wanted to blame his knee-jerk reaction on the fact he hadn’t had a female beneath him in so long, but he couldn’t keep lying to himself. That wasn’t the reason, and he knew it.
It was just her. There was something about that frustrating zhu that called to him and heated his blood. Something beyond just beauty.
As soon as he’d seen the flush crawl up her neck, he’d been unable to resist touching her. Her skin a flawless, brown against the pristine white of her gown.
And fuck, if her physical reaction hadn’t brought him seconds from exploding, hardening him without her ever having lifted a finger. Even now, her star-fire scent consumed his senses.
Jaren honestly didn’t trust what he might’ve done if he hadn’t looked down and noticed the thin scar at the base of her throat. His focus zeroed in on the clear evidence that someone—other than him—had taken a blade to her throat, and he’d almost lost it.
He wanted to know how it happened, why it happened, and by fucking who. But she’d barely said anything. The damn female was a mystery. One very much wanted to solve.
A light scraping sound caught his attention, and he turned to see her stumble through the window, grimacing and clutching her side. Guilt crept forward, but he shoved it back. It was due to her own stubbornness that she’d been injured.
Her face was pink from what had to be quite a violent scrubbing, and she was wearing an outfit almost identical to the one he’d first seen her wear in Midpath.
He crossed his arms as he looked down at her side, “Will you be able to travel a few hours?”
“Yes.” She straightened her spine and was about to say something else before she caught sight of the useless guard. She rushed over to check his pulse, her expression carefully blank.
“You promised not to harm him.”
“He’s fine.”
“He better wake up.”
“He’s a liability and will only slow us down.”
“Yeah, that tends to happen when you knock someone unconscious.” She brushed his hair back and hovered her hand over his mask, indecision written across her face before seeming to come to some silent conclusion.
Jaren didn’t back down. “I cannot promise we’ll find more than one horse.”
“That sounds like poor planning on your part. I will not leave with you alone. Not quietly. Now help me get him up.”
Pulling his hood up, he tapped into his strength, grabbed the lifeless man from where she knelt, and tossed him over his shoulder. “Your liability is going to draw attention if we’re seen, so pray to the gods it’s late enough that no one will be strolling about.”
A smile that all but guaranteed she was plotting his demise, spread across her face, and he stiffened. Somewhere along the lines, she’d stopped being afraid of him, and even though part of him was pleased, he had a distinct feeling it was going to turn her into an even larger pain in his ass.