Page 301 of Commanding Blood And Bonds

Carr snorted. “Good luck,” he muttered, dragging the limp bastard toward the door without another word.

I turned back to Freya, more aggravated than I had any right to be.

“Answer the question,” I growled. “Did he hurt you?”

“It takes more than a drunk with a hard-on and grabby hands to hurt me, Cyrus.” She must’ve seen the storm gathering behind my eyes because she added, “No. I’m not hurt.”

“Good.” I let my hands fall, stuffing them into my pockets. “Now—why are you here?”

Her fingers worked into my hair again, and I bit back the groan that threatened to escape. Fuck. How the hell were we supposed to breathe the same air inside Paladin walls without going insane?

I gently caught her wrists, lowering her arms. I couldn’t do this. Couldn’t be touched like that and think straight. She nearly flinched when I pulled away, but I didn’t stop, retreating a step like it might help.

It didn’t.

“I’m sorry. For…yesterday. I…”

“Yes?” I asked coolly.

“You were kind. Beyond helping me, you were…” She tucked a strand of bright hair behind her ear. “I see your olive branch, Cyrus. I just don’t know how to take it without setting you up for disappointment.”

“Why’s that the only ending you see?”

“We stand on the precipice of a new Great War.”

“You rejecting me because we might die?”

“Death is the only inevitable.”

“Great. What the hell does that mean?”

She swallowed hard, wetting her lips—and damn it if my gaze didn’t lock on her mouth. Always her mouth. “Paladin will need your leadership in the chaos ahead.”

“I’m male. They’ll barely notice.”

“They will,” she said, voice sharp with certainty that pulled me toward her. “How was your day?”

“You ask like you give a shit.”

“Because I do. I…” She shifted, visibly uncomfortable. “Detachment is my default. Please don’t take it personally.”

“How could I?” I said, the sarcasm leaking through. Attachment was weakness. Vulnerability. My mother had made that lesson crystal clear—over and over. And here I was, unraveling because of a single damn Bond, and the woman on the other end of it couldn’t give me a real answer.

She was acting like a Paladin. I shouldn’t begrudge her that. Shouldn’t being the operative word.

“Didn’t notice.”

Her glare made her feelings on my attitude clear. “Right.”

“Why are you here?”

She rolled her lip between her teeth before sighing, like the words pained her. “I needed to see you.”

“My condolences.”

“Cyrus.”

“Don’t Cyrus me. I’m man enough to respect your decision, but don’t drag this out.”