Page 108 of Dishonored

Too hurt.

Like his refusal actually caused the woman pain, and she wanted to show him it, too. She moved slightly closer to her step-son, and reached a hand up.

Caesar hit it away—hard enough for the sound of skin smacking against skin to echo—before her palm could come in contact with him. “Keep your fucking hands to yourself.”

“I’ll tell your father that you let her out, Caesar.”

“Do that. He expected me to, anyway.”

Martina huffed. “Why do you have to be like this? There was a time when you adored me, you know.”

“Is that what you call all of that?” he asked. “Because I would call it something else entirely.”

Oh, God.

The disgust and hatred colored every word Caesar spat out. He didn’t even try to hide it. Martina didn’t seem the least bit bothered.

Aria didn’t like what she was hearing. She could barely stand what she was thinking.

“Play nice,” Martina said, her words slurring a bit. “Fine, go play with your little thing alone. I do miss having you around this often, though—I’ll mention it to your father. He always gets you to come around more, doesn’t he?”

“I would rather chew glass than come here more than I already do. Angelo won’t change that, Martina.”

The woman pushed away from Caesar with a laugh. “We’ll see.”

Then, she was gone as she disappeared into a connecting room. Aria stayed in her place just long enough to see Caesar let out a heavy breath, and clench his fists hard at his sides. She quickly slipped back to her spot at the table before he came into the room.

His presence in the space was tangible before he even made a sound or spoke. It was enough to make her heart pick up speed, and for her skin to tingle.

She didn’t know why.

She just liked it.

“You done?” Caesar asked, rounding the table.

She glanced up at him. “Done what?”

He cocked a brow, and pointed at her plate. “That.”

“Oh, yeah.”

Fucking smooth.

Caesar didn’t say a thing. “What do you want to do next? Have a tour—go piss off Angelo’s guards? Feed the ducks?”

“You have ducks here?”

“He does. They live in a small pond toward the back of the property.”

“Ah.”

“Might as well let you stretch your legs.”

Sure.

“While the king is away, the prince will play,” Aria said in a sing-song fashion.

Had he known she was watching?