FOREVER KNIGHTS: #7 King of Assassins

SEBASTIAN

“Is he gone?” Elsabet demanded. Her nerves raw.

The dresses? Bast’s head snapped to the doorway as she stalked in. Exuding fury.

Not upset about dresses.

“You didn’t like them?” He teased anyway with a half-hearted grin.

I don’t want to fight.

“You know very well I did not. But that was the point, wasn’t it?”

She’s furious. What? What’s going on?

They exchanged a long stare.

My wounds. This is about my wounds.

Reluctantly surrendering he proclaimed. “I was careful!”

“Clearly not if you’re hurt!”

An unfair assessment!

“I had no choice!”

She may strike me. She looks it. He looked up at her huffing as she towered over him trying to melt into his chair.

“Oh, you didn’t?” Blue eyes flashed with fury and her cheeks flushed. Breasts heaving with angry breaths. She didn’t stop until they were inches apart. Expression dark with accusation.

I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her this mad. He’d seen her scared before. But this is different.

He stared up at her through puzzled blue-green eyes. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

What’d I do?

“What’ve you done now?” She was shouting. Her tone often dropped, turning scathing.

But she doesn’t shout. She usually hisses. He climbed shakily to his feet. Swaying slightly on unsteady limbs. What is this?

“Why are you so upset with me?” He lifted his hands imploringly. Having to lean back and brace himself on the armrest of his chair with a hand.

Still glaring up at him. Chin jutting. Her hands shot out so fast he jerked.

His skin glittered in the firelight as iridescent gold scales migrated below a thin layer. Ready to emerge as he fought to control his reaction to her sudden attack.

Don’t change. You’ll hurt her. He told himself.

She fisted the shoulders of his shirt and wrenched it apart with surprising strength. Fabric tore from him. Billowing down to rest along his hips, still tucked at his waist.

Now she’s taking my clothes off? His head reared back, gaze narrowing on her. Fighting the urge to retreat from the ferocity on her beautiful face.

To have better access to shred my skin?

So, she won’t snag a claw, when she stabs me? He eyed her nervously.

He knew a moment of deep shame as her study dropped to inspect his washboard abdomen and chest. Don’t look there. It’s not a good look right now.

He knew both were riddled with swollen marks from unleashing the dragons the day before. In the dim light the black markings along his arms were obvious. Curving over his shoulders and pectoral muscles like gripping claws.

Grasping his heated shoulders, she roughly turned him.

He twisted awkwardly. In the back?

But to his utter astonishment he felt her gentle hands tracing the marks and recent gouges twining his back. He stared at the floor pained. I look a mess. His back was a mass of damaged tissue. Repulsive.

“I’ve not had time to heal.” He felt the need to explain.

It’ll look better in a sennight or so.

“Why do you do it?” She nearly sobbed.

What?

Get injured protecting my brothers. That’s what she means.

He tossed a shocked glance over his shoulder and saw her eyes welling. “Elsabet…” He chided. “Please don’t. I’m fine.”

Or will be soon.

“No, you’re not. Look what you’ve done! You can barely stand. You’re swaying even now! No wonder you’ve been in that chair all day. I thought you just didn’t wish to eat with me!”

Never the case. His gaze fell to the floor again.

“I always want to eat with you.” He couldn’t deny the charges.

They’re all true.

“Does he know?” She asked angrily. “Do any of them know?”

“Know what?”

“How much you sacrifice for them?”

Now you believe me?

“I thought I only left here to lay with women?” His hurt forced a bit of bitterness into his voice.

“Don’t you dare!”

She’s right. That was uncalled for.

“You’re just trying to change the subject because you never want to discuss this.” She pushed a palm to where the scars were deepest.

"Ouch!"