My heart thumped unevenly as I gathered the courage to speak aloud what had been bothering me for too long. “I think something else’s got you worried. Something besides the ritual, I mean. Tell me, what’s got you so scared you’re not even sleeping?”
I allowed the accusation to hang in the air between us, growing heavier by the second. I leaned in closer, forcing his eyes to meet mine.
“Want to know what I think?” I whispered, trying to imitate one of his piercing looks, like I was penetrating right through to the soul beneath. “I think there’s another reason you don’t want me involved. One you’re not telling me.”
You are the last person who should go anywhere near the Bloodthorn Order.
At once, anger sparked in his amber eyes, but I refused to back down. Admittedly, I was bluffing my confidence with this half-formed theory. But both he and August had said enough to kindle my suspicions. I clenched against the sudden urge to inhale his heady scent.
Scarcely breathing, I leaned in as close as I dared. “I think you’re a liar, and a shitty one at that.”
“That’s enough, Farrow,” he hissed.
I held his gaze for as long as I could. He broke away first, laughing softly.
“I’ve never met anyone so determined. Stubborn would be a better word for it.”
Feeling lightheaded from the lack of oxygen, I took a step back and took a deep breath before I spoke again.
“Fine, you don’t want to tell me whatever it is you’re hiding. I’ll find out soon enough,” I assured him. “Can you at least tell me if you have any news regarding the ritual?”
“If you haven’t noticed, Farrow,” he said, his voice laced with sarcasm, “I’ve been a bit busy trying to gather information to save your pathetic ex-boyfriend.”
“Don’t do that,” I snapped.
“Do what?”
“Pretend to be all callous. You wouldn’t be helping me if you didn’t care.”
Casimir’s gaze sliced through me. We were bordering on dangerous territory now, but the words were slipping out faster than I could hold them back.
“You don’t want August to die, admit it.”
A harsh, barking laugh escaped his throat. “You cannot be serious, Farrow.”
“If you don’t care, then why did you make the bargain with me in the first place?”
“This conversation is over,” he growled, his tone heavy with finality.
By now, the dark storm clouds were weaving their vaporous shroud across the sky, allowing only an occasional streak of light to seep through. I shivered against the frigid air that beckoned to us from beyond the trees. Still, the winter chill was nothing compared to the way Casimir was looking at me now, as if his gaze might freeze my very bones.
“Look,” he cut in, “if we’re going to help anyone, we have to find the new Keeper. Otherwise, none of this will matter. We won’t stand a chance.” He fought to restrain his expression, but his eyes held a storm. “And yes, alright. I don’t want Sinclair dead, if only because it would make working together that much more difficult. I will remind you that our bargain stipulates you must complete your side of the agreement, regardless of the outcome where Sinclair is concerned.” He crossed his arms over his chest and arched a defiant brow, as if daring me to argue.
My lips parted in surprise. He’d actuallyadmittedhe didn’t want August to be killed.
“Happy?” he demanded, advancing on me. His face was swathed in shadow, making his irises appear darker, swallowing the light.
“I—Yes,” I said, still trapped in his gaze.
The way he was looking at me…as if he were weighing his options, silently debating whether things might not be simpler if he just got rid of me. My gaze darted around the veranda. The hairs on the back of my neck prickled when I found that we were utterly alone. My tongue felt dry against my teeth, and then the question slipped past my lips before I could stop it.
“Do veilbound bargains end if one party dies?”
Casimir’s answering smirk was laced with dark amusement. “Yes, but not if one of the involved parties is at fault for said death.”
“Oh,” I spluttered. “Well, um—good.”
His hand darted out, gripping my chin between ice-cold fingers. He angled my face toward him and forced my eyes to meet his. “Don’t believe for a moment that something as insignificant as a magical law would stop me if I wanted to end your life,” he said, the words coming out in a low rasp.