He ran his tongue over his teeth, the barest tendril of heat escaping him, fueling her confidence. “You are the first,” he grudgingly admitted.
Confidence restored. I’ve got this! “Since we’ve got that cleared up, be my darling and get out of my way. If you hadn’t noticed, I’m naked. I seek clean clothes.”
His nostrils flared. “You won’t traipse the palace in this state.”
Oh, yeah. She totally had this. His possessiveness had just reared its big, beautiful head. Going for flirty, she batted her lashes. “Why don’t you do your duty as my spouse and provide for me? In case you’re wondering, I’m size perfect.” Like every woman who’d ever lived.
“Trust me, I noticed.” He maintained his hold, studying her face with renewed intent. “We captured a phantom today.”
Confidence plummeted yet again. Clearly, she hadn’t convinced him of anything. “Thanks for the warning. I’ll be on the lookout. No big, bad phantom will overtake me.”
“You told me you’ve never fought a phantom. How do you know you can defeat one?”
Reveal nothing. “I can defeat anyone. Why else? One day I’ll even defeat you. So what, exactly, are you implying here, Roc?” Better to confront his suspicions head-on.
The light in his pores brightened, threatening to unravel her composure. Do not break his stare and lick your lips.
“Erebus sent me a message,” he said. He went quiet again.
Taliyah didn’t let herself panic. She knew better. Panic led to mistakes. As casually as she could manage, she arched a brow and braced a fist on a cocked hip. “And?”
“And he says you are a phantom.”
Shock and fury punched the air from her lungs. Her own father ratted on her? That...that... There was no insult great enough. The urge to kill vibrated in her bones. At least she didn’t have to wonder why. Erebus would rather make Roc miserable than protect his own flesh and blood.
“You believe your greatest foe?” She tsked. “Hey, would you like to buy an invisible best friend? I’m offering two for the price of one.”
His eyelids slitted. “You are my foe. The one who challenges me for the position of Commander.”
“Because you selected me, not the other way around!”
“You demanded I select you.” Lacking mercy, he returned to the interrogation. “Why did you refuse to eat dinner?”
She rolled her eyes. What else could she do? “Some snakes prefer to devour their mates whole.”
His eyelids slitted further. “The day you tracked me in the throne room—”
“You mean yesterday?” She tried for flippant. She might have sounded strained. Yesterday felt a million years away.
“—did you use illusion to hide yourself...or did you disembody?”
Careful. “Tell trade secrets to the male planning my murder? Try again.”
He remained undeterred. “Are you a phantom, Taliyah? Say yes or no and nothing else.”
Hardly. “If I say no, you won’t believe me. If I say yes, you’ll attack. Why don’t we climb in bed and cuddle this out?” He’d fall asleep with her in his arms. She’d push her spirit out of her body and feed. He’d never know she’d left him, and he’d believe her story. Simple, easy. Won’t whimper.
“Yes. Or. No.”
Okay, so, the first stream of panic invaded. What was her best move here? Think! Should she flat-out deny it?
No. Misleading an enemy was fun. Outright lying to save her skin was nothing but cowardice. Should she just admit the truth? What would he do to her? His options were limited. Lock her up or kill her.
If anyone had the means to cage a phantom, it was this uncompromising Astra.
“Silence isn’t an option,” he said, pushing the statement through clenched teeth. “Yes or no. Say one or the other. Now.”
“Screw you. I’m fetching clothes. I’ve been ogled enough for one day.” She braced for battle. “To stop me, you’ll have to fight me.”
“Very well.” He removed his hand from her nape. He didn’t strike—he vanished.
Did she relax her guard? Not even a little. Wherever he’d gone, whatever he was doing, he planned to return fast. She knew it.
Taliyah lunged, sweeping up the dagger he’d discarded.
Roc reappeared with a shirt he tossed in her direction.
“Dress.” If he noticed the weapon, he made no comment.
Reflexes in better shape than the rest of her, she caught the garment without fumbling. “I don’t understand.” Had the danger passed?
As she worked the material over her head, Roc stated, “You are without excuses now. Answer my question.”
No, the danger hadn’t passed. This man was determined, intelligent and ruthless, and he’d already put some pretty solid pieces together.
“What I am,” she said, “is your gravita.”
“You are a thirty-day irritation.”
Ouch. Whatever. His opinion hardly mattered. Except, this one kind of...hurt. Only minutes before, he’d held her as if he couldn’t get enough of her. And she’d held him right back, because part of her respected him. Maybe even liked him. He was amazingly strong, his battle skill unsurpassed. His intensity stunned. When he indulged his sense of humor, he charmed.