Page 254 of Black Reign

That does absolutely nothing useful to my heartbeat.

He walks toward me.

“Come here.”

“No.”

“Sabine.”

“You can't say something like that and then start issuing commands.”

“I just did.”

He reaches for a small glass jar sitting on the side table.

I eye it suspiciously.

“What is that?”

“Balm.”

“For?”

“Your lip.”

“It’s fine.”

“It’s split.”

“You noticed.”

His look says I've said something particularly stupid.

He unscrews the lid.

“Come here.”

I should resist on principle.

Instead I walk closer.

He dips his index finger into the clear balm.

My pulse becomes inconvenient.

“You have medical staff for this.”

“They left.”

“You could call them back.”

“I know how lip balm works.”

“It’s a highly specialized procedure.”

His eyes flick up.

“Keep talking and I’ll reconsider dessert.”