Chapter 22 #2
Ender’s brows shoot up.
“This isn’t about your sister, is it?” he asks after a brief pause. “You are jealous.”
He can’t be serious.
“What?!”
“It explains why you are acting so deranged,” Ender says, folding his arms across his chest with a satisfied gleam in his eyes. “Waving a gun around and making empty threats.”
“The threat is very real,” I say.
I’m holding a gun at him. Most people would cower looking into the eye of my barrel. I never miss.
“Yeah?” He taunts. “Prove it, sunshine.”
“Don’t test me, Vale,” I say, my voice strained.
“Your eyes are all wild, and your cheeks are flushed,” he comments. He studies me with fascination. “You are jealous.”
I’ve never seen him so gleeful. I didn’t even think he had any other facets to his personality beyond anger, irritation, and boredom. It’s like the tension in his face loosens at the thought of me being jealous, which is ludicrous. Why would that even delight him? It should repel him.
I do not belong to him.
I can’t take his smugness anymore. It’s too much.
I press on the trigger, and the bullet scrapes his arm, digging into the brick behind him. Ender’s eyes widen before it narrows into thin slits. His coat is sliced, and blood pours down the shallow cut.
It was a warning shot.
The doors burst open, and twelve enforcers pour into the small space, surrounding Ender like a shield. I lower my gun, just as they all point theirs at me.
“Lower your weapons. Now!” Ender growls. “And leave us.”
The enforcers glance warily at me. It is difficult for them to retreat when they are looking at an active threat.
“If I wanted him dead, he would be,” I say, raising my chin. “The Commandant is safe.”
“It was a minor disagreement,” Ender explains, quelling their unrest. “Now, leave us, before I shoot you all.”
I know he is not sending them away to protect me. From the wrathful look in his eyes, he plans to deal with me himself.
“Did you just shoot me?”
“I kissed you,” I say. “With a bullet.”
Ender doesn’t crack a smile. Not that I expected him to. Even if attacking him was dangerous and unhinged, at least he’s not looking at me like that, like I’m infatuated with him. My feelings toward him couldn’t be clearer. There will be no room for disagreement now.
He stalks forward. My back is already pressed against the banister. I have nowhere to retreat. He is a predator who knows exactly how to corner his prey.
“I’ll shoot you again,” I warn. “Don’t come—”
Ender grabs my wrist and snatches my gun away, tucking it into the waistband of his pants with his left hand. He reaches for my wrists and holds them in his big palm, restraining me.
“Let me go, Vale.”
“You shot me because you thought I was interested in another woman,” Ender says slowly. “If I weren’t so delighted by your bloodthirsty reaction, I might have you punished for the assault.”
“I care about my sister and her feelings,” I say. “She is sensitive. She cannot weather a scandal.”
“Is she?” he asks. “Because when we first met, she was bold and reactive, and now she is timid and afraid. And you are the opposite.”
“I tire of your speculation.” I sigh. “You constantly doubt me. You believe I helped the rebels kidnap me, you think I know their grand plan, and now you imply that I am impersonating my sister? When will these foolish notions cease?”
“Why can’t you admit it?” Ender snaps. “Admit that you are my wife.”
My breath stutters. I would step away, but I have nowhere to go. Ender is furious and bleeding. His eyes stare so deeply into mine that it’s uncomfortable. My gaze drags down to the small gash on his arms.
“You should get that checked,” I advise. “You might be losing too much blood. It’s affecting your senses.”
Ender roughly rips off his coat, releasing me momentarily, and snatches out his dress shirt from his trousers. He attempts to rip it one-handed, to likely wrap his wound. I lift a foot to take advantage of his distraction and disappear when he pins me with a dark glare.
“Don’t move,” he says icily.
“Just go to the clinic,” I say. “You’re being stubborn.”
He ignores me, and I sigh, reaching out to hold the fabric while he tears off the end. Ender thrusts the white cotton at me.
“Fix it,” he says.
“Must I?” I ask.
“Unless you want to be detained and prosecuted by the High Justice for shooting me and then executed. I would tie the damn cut, if I were you,” he says, staring down at me beneath his arrogant nose.
I snatch the cloth from his hand. He raises his injured arm, giving me room to wrap it around his bicep. I have to stand on my toes to work efficiently, bringing me closer to his face. I take a deep breath and immediately regret it when I inhale his cologne. It’s masculine and spicy.
I tighten it. A bit too tight, and he grunts. His palm falls on my hips, and he squeezes my flesh in warning.
“Careful,” he snarls.
I make the mistake of looking up at him. His thick, velvet-black lashes shield his eyes. They are fluttery and wispy, and I’m instantly envious of them.
“You didn’t answer my question,” Ender says.
I’m not going to entertain his suspicions of Mercy and me swapping places. I refuse to give him the satisfaction of being clever enough to unravel our ruse. And so early on at that. He knew about our deception since day one.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say.
I step forward to brush past him, but his fingers dig into my flesh. I forgot that he was holding me in place. His touch burns even through the fabric of my uniform. I can feel the indent of his fingers.
“Don’t lie to me, Warrick,” he says. “How long will you keep this up?”
“Let go of me,” I whisper.
For a second, I think he intends to keep me here forever, trapped in the vortex of his stare. His eyes are so pale, they appear spectral under the moonlight.
We’ve been gone for too long, and after the gunshot, I’m certain the enforcers are all waiting anxiously beyond the door.
The Supreme Director will most certainly kill them if any misfortune befalls his son. I’m surprised Ender is letting me get away with this. It was a foolish, reckless thing to do. I shouldn’t have reacted to his goading.
Ender releases me.
“This isn’t over,” he promises.
I swallow nervously. The look in his eyes cannot be mistaken.
It is pure determination.
Ender Vale will not stop until he has unearthed all my secrets.