Page 51 of Heir of Broken Souls

No.

Knox, I seethe.

We’re talking about it and that’s final.

Fine, I spit.You want to know what I want?

Yes, I truly do. Let me into your mind.

I bark out a humorless laugh. Take a look around, Knox! You’re in it!

That’s not what I mean and you know it. You’ve locked away your emotions so tightly I’m afraid you’ll never be able to access them again.

Good!I snap, rising to my feet.I hope I never see her face again. I hope she dies a slow, painful death for all she has done and I pray to all the forgotten gods that I never, ever, feel what she made me feel again. I hope—I hope she dies!

The words pour out of me with abandon, my chest rising and falling rapidly. Even my cheeks heat with the anger that flares within me.

Knox, however, doesn’t sound surprised or fearful in the least.

Finally, he drawls.

You’re a piece of work.

And you’re feisty when you’re mad. I have to say, it doesn’t have the effect you hoped it had.

And what’s that, Knox?

You want me to run in fear of what lurks beneath your surface, but in case you haven’t noticed, not much scares me, let alone you. We’re one and the same, Angel.He shrugs, a coy smile sliding into place.If anything, your outburst turned me on.

Groaning, I plop down across from him.There are plenty more creative ways to turn me on than starting a fight, Mr. Holloway. I suggest you try them sometime.

He rises on his knees and crawls toward me.Is that right?

I shove the heel of my boot into his chest, halting him.Don’t come any further. We still have matters to discuss.

His brow flicks up.Oh? And what might those be?

Lenox and Harlow.

The heat in his eyes vanishes.Do we have to?

You forced me to spill my feelings about Hazel, so now it’s your turn. What happened between them? This has to be more than Harlow acting out because Lenox changed.

I wish I knew, he answers solemnly.But they’ve both been tight-lipped?—

Knox gives a jolt then, eyes glazing. The sight makes me rise, my heart beating rapidly.Knox? What happened? What is it?

He shakes his head.Edgar just arrived. He…he?—

Knox stutters, unable to form the words of what his messenger relayed. I lay my hand on his cheek, forcing his eyes to mine.Knox, honey, breathe. What happened?

His Adam’s apple bobs on a swallow. His voice is hoarse, tinged with dread, when he finally speaks again.

Cardania has fallen.

Chapter20

Knox