I Regret Nothing - JB Trepagnier Page 0,46

ever told you that?”

“Not to my face. You’re the only one brave enough.”

I looked over at him, and Faust had this weird fucking look on his face. He had a soft smile like he liked me calling him a fucked up psycho, and his amber eyes were sparkling. I didn’t know how to process that, so I didn’t.

“I think you like it,” I grumped, stomping over to his files.

“Rei, I wasn’t going to tell you this, but I think you have a right to know.”

Was he finally going to explain his massive mood swings? Because I was getting whiplash trying to figure them out.

“Okay.”

“The coven you stole the Grimoire for put a hit out on you here. It’s only a matter of time before someone takes them up on it. I’ll protect you with my life, but you’re in danger, Rei. It’s not just the witches in here. It’s an entire coven.”

I wasn’t shocked. It answered many questions as to why Venus was here with me all up in my face, and why the warden hadn’t taken any precautions with the two of us.

“I’m not surprised. Someone stuck Venus and me in here together for a reason. No one has tried separating us. You sat there when she showed up to beat me up.”

Faust cleared his throat.

“I would have stopped it if it looked like you couldn’t handle it. Shit, Rei. I’m really sorry. I had the chance to throw her in solitary then, and I didn’t take it. I can’t do it now because she got a beating. I’m so fucking sorry.”

He really did look like he was being honest. He looked like he desperately wanted me to forgive him. I still didn’t trust him because this was some dramatic mood change, but at least he was being honest with me. Faust could have very well been fucking with me, but I didn’t think so. Ever since he swore on his wolf, I got the feeling everything he told me was the truth except for why he was acting this way.

“At least I got to punch her in the face.”

“I have to ask, Rei. Do you want her dead? I can get into medical. It would make sense.”

Was Faust asking my permission to kill Venus? Why would he even need that if he was a serial killer? I didn’t like this kind of responsibility. It was one thing for me to talk about this with Astrid, Wren, Dakarys, and Rajack. It was entirely another for me to sic Faust on her. I didn’t want that kind of power.

“The witches are supposed to be deciding her fate. Please don’t step in. If Venus ends up dead, there’s going to be a war in this prison. They’ll be after the foxes and me.”

Would he actually listen to me? This situation was going to implode any day now if the witches didn’t handle this. The fact that there could be an assassin coming after me didn’t surprise me, but I could really only deal with one person trying to kill me at a time.

“Of course. You’re right. I can’t be here all the time. I don’t know what to do, Rei. I have to keep you safe, but I can’t sleep here. The only reason I feel safe leaving you at night is that you’re locked in your cell. They could pay a guard to do it, though. Fuck!”

“CO Faust?”

“Yes, Rei?”

“Why do you even give a shit if I die? Is someone paying you to keep me safe?”

Did Hauser know him and gave him a call to keep me safe? If he did, I hoped Hauser tore him a new asshole for hunting me. Faust stalked over to me and tucked my hair behind my ear. He looked at me so tenderly. What the fuck?

“No one is paying me, Rei.”

“Then what is all this? Why are you suddenly being so nice to me?”

“I swear to you, I’ll explain. Just not yet. I’ll swear on my wolf if you want. It’s just too early to tell you anything.”

I spat in my palm and held my hand out.

“Blood oaths are nasty, and I won’t ask you to swear on your wolf again. We can shake on it.”

Faust’s hand was warm and calloused in mine. That wasn’t the most fucked up part. I liked his hand in mine. I felt this little jolt of electricity where our skin was touching. Our eyes met, and we didn’t let go for a minute. What the fuck was