AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"You should have," he said. "You should be on your guard more."
"You sound like Bain," I said. I lowered my hand and breathed slowly to calm my racing heart. "Trust no one. Are you going to tell me I shouldn't trust you?" Up there on the mountain, he was the only one Icouldtrust.
Okay,maybethere was a moment there when I thought he was going to hand me over to the Hemitheos Council, or at least their hired thugs. Like a lot of the things Knox did, it was an act. In that case, it was a ploy to get me free.
I owed him my life. I also owed him a healthy chunk of my sanity for helping me get through those days.
He stepped further into the room and looked around slowly. "You can trust me. And Bain."
"Not Dex?" I asked.
He turned his face toward me. "Dex often has his own agenda. You can trust him, as long as you fit into his plans."
Yeah, I'd figured that much out already.
"And if I don't?" I asked. I wasn't sure I wanted to hear the answer. IlikedDex. I didn't want to mistrust him.
Knox's brow furrowed. "Do you have a choice?"
I blinked. "I don't know, do I?"
Before he could respond, I answered my own question. "I think I do. At least to some extent." Sure, I thought of it as a gilded cage, but having it held up in front of me like this was another thing.
Knox didn't respond right away. When he did, he said, "Dex is flexible. He has to be. The Alpha likes to change his mind without notice. If the Keeper didn't bend, he would break. Others have before him."
"I'm starting to think Alphahole might be a better description of this Alpha guy," I remarked. "As in alpha asshole."
Knox chuckled. "I don't recommend you say that to his face. He's powerful and has a short temper." Before I could say anything, he added, "A bit like you."
I stuck my tongue out at him. "Don't you forget it."
He took a few steps closer. "I wouldn't dare," he said softly.
"Did you come here to warn me to behave myself?" I asked. "Because I've already had that lesson from Dex."
His gaze caught mine and he shook his head.
For a moment I thought he might pick me up, toss me on the bed, and tear off my clothes. Maybe not in that order.
I lifted my chin, challenging him to—I don't know what. Something hard, fast, hot and sweaty.
His Adam's apple bobbed up and down. "I know whatever I say, you won't stop being you. I hope you never do." He shook his head and the moment slipped away like water down the plughole. "I came to escort you to the audience room."
"Oh." I knew I wasn't the only one to catch that vibe between us. Like Dex, he seemed reluctant to make any life changing decisions until after the Alpha's visit. Was this guy really that bad? If he had three reasonably badass guys ready to jump out of their skin, he must be.
On the other hand, I dealt with Helene, and before her, the Covener, and survived more or less unscathed.
Not counting any mental scars.
"Is it normal for an escort to climb up onto the balcony and break into someone's room?" I asked, teasing to break the tension.
"Who said I climbed?" He gave me a sly smile.
"The fact you're wearing clothes." I gestured toward him. "If you shifted you'd be naked. Unless you stripped, threw your clothes up, shifted, flew, or bounced or whatever, then shifted back and dressed again."
It took him a moment to process my words. When he did, he grinned. "That might be what I did."
"I would have heard you," I said.
