SEBASTIAN
The door banged shut, and I prowled over to it, twisting the lock before slamming my hands against the wall. The cold stone beneath my fingers did nothing to cool the fiery inferno pulsing through my body. Pulling on my power, I erected a privacy ward around the room before turning around.
Luna had not moved. She stood in the middle of the bedroom, the scent of fear wafting off her as her hands trembled at her sides.
“What did you do to me?” I growled again now that we were alone.
A thin sheen of sweat shone on her forehead, and her tanned skin was pale. Despite her obvious fear, she did not look away. I would have probably found that more fascinating if not for the horrible, agonizing pain I had been subjected to mere moments ago.
Pain that had disappeared when she slipped her hand into mine.
“Answer me, Luna,” I snarled.
Those brown eyes stared at me defiantly. “I told you, I did nothing.”
My nostrils flared and shadows curled around my hands and feet as I stalked over to the nearest window. Gripping the wooden sill, I stared out into the night. Usually, the sight of the snow falling on the gargoyles guarding Castle Sanguis brought me peace.
Not tonight.
Turmoil twisted in my gut. One moment I was walking down the hall, intent on finding my spymaster, and the next, I was rolling on the floor in absolute agony.
“How do you explain what happened?” I turned, gesturing between us. “The pain. If it wasn’t you, where did it come from?”
I had not felt anything like that since the night of my Making.
“I-I don’t know.” Wide-eyed, Luna shook her head. Standing on the other side of the bed with her hands on her hips, she stared at me. “I didn’t do anything.”
“That’s hard to believe. Are you a witch? Did you plan this whole thing?” I ran a hand through my hair. “Or a spy? Is that why you’re writing letters every night? If you did this to weaken me—”
A disbelieving laugh ran through her, and red dusted her cheeks. I stopped talking.
“What?” I growled.
“Do you honestly believe that? You seriously thinkIhad something to do with this?”
“I’m deadly serious,” I snarled, showing her my fangs. “That pain didn’t come out of nowhere, little human, and I’m convinced you had something to do with it.”
As soon as the words left my lips, Luna’s entire demeanor shifted. All traces of fear in her scent disappeared as anger flashed through her eyes.
“Don’t call me that,” she snapped, clenching her fists at her side. “I might be a human, but I’m not little.”
“From here, it looks like you are.” My blood boiled in my veins. “You came here and tricked me.”
“You think I did something to you on purpose?” She crossed her arms, taking a step toward me. Anger flashed in her brown eyes and her cheeks and neck were red. “You think that this was all a game?”
“Yes!” I shouted.
My wings flared, and I clenched my fists, stepping toward her. The bed remained between the two of us, but the distance seemed like nothing.
Luna lifted her chin, glaring at me. I glared right back. Her eyes were a deep brown tonight, the color of coffee and darkness. Our chests heaved in unison, and my heart thundered as the air in the room thickened further. Luna’s breath hitched, but she didn’t speak.
I growled, “That’sexactlywhat I think. Did you manufacture this entire marriage so you could come here and hurt me?”
Even as the words left my lips, a small part of me knew I was being slightly ridiculous. Mother had arranged this marriage because of the coming darkness. I knew that. This human probably had nothing to do with it. Still, I couldn’t stop my mouth from forming the anger-charged words.
“Who sent you?” I snarled, taking another step toward her.
Luna held her ground, holding up a finger and pointing it at me. “You are absolutely, unequivocally, one hundred percent delusional,” she seethed. “Did you lose your mind sometime over the past week? Or perhaps you’re so old, your mental faculties are no longer in order?