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My teeth dug so hard into my tongue I tasted blood. Knowing and remembering all the times Razai has lied was one thing. Seeing it before me like this felt like a slap in my face.
“Do that. In the meantime, I believe it’s my duty to mourn.” Castile tipped the decanter, pouring more amber liquid into his glass. I’d never seen an immortal look so worn. Everything, from his eyes to his mouth to his shoulders, drooped. “Miss Wilder, the final funds have been sent to your account. And needless to say, if you speak of this contractual work to anyone, I will have you tracked down and eliminated.”
He gulped the whiskey down in one go.
I swallowed hard as well. Fucking prick.
He waved a hand and turned his back. “You may leave.”
As soon as the door closed behind us, I accused, “You don’t even look slightly ashamed.”
“If you want a sad, regretful little demon, you only got yourself.”
“Razai,” I hissed, looking around.
“Gray,” he mocked with a playful nudge. “This is the most secure hallway of the university. No one is going to overhear us.”
My insides warmed at the contact, pulling me toward him. I gritted my teeth and walked faster, creating as much distance between myself and that absolute shitpile of a person.
We didn’t speak on the elevator down. When we walked into the open, two people waited for me outside. Nate had his characteristic black baseball cap and guarded expression. Ember twirled her magenta hair and tapped her foot.
“Where have you been?” she demanded.
“Nice to see you too,” I shot back, pulling her into a hug.
“The fuck?” she squeaked.
I needed a hug. All this close contact with Razai made me all needy for physical affection. “Sorry I’ve been gone. The rest of the month has been pretty busy.”
“Quinn wouldn’t even let me in to see you!”
Because I’d asked for no visitors. Something about the uselessness of the remainder of my contract work here made me antisocial. “Well, you’ll be seeing a lot less of me anyway.”
Her face fell. “You’re leaving already?”
Nate glanced away. “That’s bullshit. We finally have a counselor worth a damn and she’s leaving.”
For some odd reason, my heart squeezed. So I marched to Nate and pulled him into a hug as well. The guy yelped and tried to push me off but settled for a stiff pat on my shoulder.
I released him with a huff. “Thanks for helping me so much, you two. Sorry I couldn’t find the killer.”
Nate shrugged. “I don’t know. You don’t seem too worried about it anymore, so I don’t think we have any reason to be worried.”
I blinked. “What?”
“You cared about it. To the point that it scared you. I could see that, Miss Valence. And now?” He peered right into my eyes, straight through my soul. “You think we’re going to be alright.”
“Sheesh,” I mumbled. “We’re really getting all touchy-feely now.”
I expected Razai to pipe up with some idiotic joke about me and my issues around hugs, but he wasn’t there. I turned to see him talking to… Darby.
The way that the tall woman looked up at him. The understanding in her eyes… no, not just understanding.
Gratitude.
Then, to my shock, she flung her arms around him. Her shoulders shook as she cried. So, she knew that Razai had saved her, didn’t she? What else did she know about what he did that night?
How in the world could I possibly loathe and respect Razai all at once? It didn’t make sense. I hated the man’s guts more than anything. He’d lied to me. Manipulated me. Strung me along like some stupid puppet. He didn’t show me the respect that I’d deserved, even if the situation was impossible for him. Becoming my friend, and then more than a friend, had been too far.
