and his eyes widened in disbelief. Maybe real ladies didn’t snort? Well, I wasn’t a lady. “Then maybe I would be doing your kingdom a favor. Women tend to not be so rash in their ways or thinking.”
“Women can be just as irritating.” His eyes narrowed, and he pointed to me. “As for serving dinner, I wanted to see which version of you would show up. And how obedient you were. Turns out not very.”
“Get used to it,” I snapped, then leaned back onto the pillow and waited for the harsh words to follow. How he was angry that I had fooled him, lied to him about who I was, and also disobeyed his order to not be seen by him, a few times.
My reddened cheeks gave him the affirmation he needed.
He sighed dramatically and leaned closer to me. “Why did you come to the wedding celebration that night when I forbade you to?”
“I hadn’t eaten all day and was famished. It seems your staff are not very hospitable.”
“Ah, that’s right. You did say you were just there for the food.”
I nodded.
“You looked beautiful that first night. I didn’t know who you were. I was trapped in the despair of my own doing, and I spotted you hiding in the shadows across the room. Your face glowed with delight and innocence. I was drawn to you and snuck closer just so I could watch your reactions, for here was a woman who didn’t seem to be burdened with darkness. Light spilled forth from you. I was a moth, and you were the flame. Had I only known then who you were.”
It was difficult to swallow at his admission. Waiting for the hammer to drop. Nothing but silence. When the tirade didn’t begin, I searched his eyes and he searched mine. I felt naked without the veil, my true identity revealed. We were truly seeing each other for the first time. Did he have no feelings on the matter? Then I realized how angry he was, because he was silent.
“I’m sorry,” I said coldly, looking away to stare at the wood floor. “For deceiving you.”
It was his turn to sigh. He leaned back so he was parallel to me on the bed, his arms stretched above his head to cradle his neck. “I was a fool to ever give you that order. It’s a good thing I hadn’t seen you before we were married, because my father was right—I would have let your beauty surely dazzle me.” He reached for my chin and brought my eyes up to look into his. He searched my gaze, and I wished I could understand what he was thinking and feeling. Instead I saw a tortured soul.
The heat of his hand on my face made my heart flutter, my breathing ragged, and I realized we were utterly alone. His eyes dropped to my lips, and then his grip tightened and he pushed me roughly away from him.
“You are a witch,” he said angrily. “You bespell me every time I see you, for I have this asinine desire to kiss you… again.”
“That was never my intention. I tried to obey you, but I can’t live behind a mask for the rest of my life.”
“Why not? I do. It’s what protects me from those I hate.” His handsome face turned cruel, and I moved away from him, putting my back to the wall. He laughed. “Oh, now you run away?”
“Did you try to kill me?” I asked suspiciously.
“What?” He was obviously shocked by my accusation.
I swallowed and looked away, trying to keep my tears at bay, hiding my insecurity behind bitterness. “I overheard your discussion with your father in the library. He told you to take care of the inconvenience. You took me into town with your guards and left me, and then someone tried to murder me in the woods. It sounds to me like an elaborate assassination plan if I ever heard one.”
“No, I do not know who shot you.” Xander swallowed and glanced away, but I could read it on his face.
“You lie,” I accused angrily.
His eyes flashed as he gripped my shoulder. “I’m not.”
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked. “Instead of heading back to the house.”
“Because it was dark and closer than the manor.”
“Which means if you kill me, no one will find my body,” I surmised.
“Why are you so obsessed with the idea that I’m going to kill you?”
“Aren’t you?” I was pushing his buttons, trying to rile him up.