Page 243 of Black Reign

“No.”

Oh.

All right.

I reach for the tea again.

Xavier's mouth twitches.

He knows exactly what he just did to me.

I hate that too.

The scones arrive.

He doesn't let the staff member enter.

Takes the tray himself.

Locks the door again.

Security.

Always.

But for once it doesn't feel like a cage.

It feels like walls between me and everything outside.

He puts the tray on the table.

Warm scones.

Butter.

Jam.

More honey.

I break one apart.

Steam curls upward.

“This is absurd.”

“What is?”

“This.”

I gesture between us.

“Tea?”

“Us.”

That stops him.

The fire cracks.