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I shouldn’t stare, but I couldn’t help it

His eyes remained on the fire for a while before they flicked back to me

Our eyes locked

Seconds passed

I didn’t look away

He didn’t back down Didn’t blink The fire reflected in his eyes, looking like ice-blue flames instead of the inferno of red

My eyes dropped to the scotch “I’m sorry”

“For?”

“Beatrice” I looked up again

He still stared at s you shouldn’t be sorry for”

“I just mean…I can tell how much this bothers you”

He brought the glass to his lips, took a drink, and not a drink like the one I’d taken It was a big s, like water after a long run “Not your problem”

“I still care”

“Don’t” He looked at the fire again, holding the cool glass against his temple

I stared at hiaze, the icy cold “I know it’s not —”

“Then don’t” His jawline wasa distinct dark line that separated his chin from his veined neck He had a hard face, and by hard, Ifroertips to his furrowed eyebrows Masculine Ferocious Monstrous His only softness was his blue eyes

My voice was controlled and low becausespeed “The only reason why I’ot me out of there”

His eyes flicked back to mine

“But that patience isn’t infinite I killed a Malevolent, and I stabbed ed that blade into et pissed, I’m really pissed”

His hand slowly lowered the glass froe of his armrest

“I’m not your enemy I’m not your friend But I am loyal to you Always”

The blueness was still, like the calm sea between Spain and Italy, just smooth

I coe My breathing grew heavy because he was innately inti, whether he was calm or hostile “And I know you’re loyal to me So, let’s act like it”

22

Benton