Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Knox
“He’s a wild creature; you can’t trust him,” I stated.
“So are you,” she retorted.
“I’m far more feral than that creature.”
“I’ve no doubt.”
“And no, Briar, you shouldn’t trust me.”
Not alone; not around you.
“I never said I did,” she replied.
That stung more than I liked, but I ignored the comment as I studied the tiny creature. I should grab its scruff and break its neck. That would be the safest thing for all of us… especially her.
What if it did turn on her? From the way Petra made it sound, I couldn’t save her from its poison, but she truly cared for the thing, and it would devastate her to lose it.
Shit.
I ran a hand over the stubble covering my head. I should have done the right thing and throttled it, but instead I lowered my hand and tugged her along beside me when I resumed walking.
Killing it would be for the best, but I couldn’t do that to her. If it did bite her, I’d wrench it to pieces and hate myself forever for failing to protect her.
She’d hate me if I killed it. While a part of me wanted her to hate me so she’d keep her distance, the beast couldn’t tolerate the idea of it or the anguish that would fill her eyes and face.
This woman weakened me, and I abhorred it.
“What else did the elf ask?” I inquired.
Briar almost jogged to keep up with me as we strode toward the closed castle gates. “He asked about my Needing,” she panted.
My teeth ground together. “What concern is that of his?”
“I think he was curious.”
“What did you tell him?”
“I told him that you helped me through it. I think he took it to mean that you fucked me, and I left him with that conclusion, but I didn’t lie to him.”
She directed those last words at me. They were her way of saying she hadn’t lied about telling her mother about us either… or so she claimed.