Shadowburn (2)

Chapter 36

Caelei stared at him, at Thorn as he walked through the opening in the wall. She was fuming, could barely remember the last time she had felt this angry. She wanted nothing more than to either beat her fists through him, or stab her swords into his chest. The way she was feeling, she didn't care how murderous her actions were. The minute his eyes landed on her he sighed. It was so casual, as if her anger didn't bother him at all.

It was times like this she really wished she was more powerful and intimidating. No one ever took her anger seriously.

"How dare you?" She demanded, anger seething in her voice.

He looked at her like he would rather be anywhere but there with her. The sight only boiled her veins even more.

"How dare I what, little nymph?" He asked, his voice distant as if he was thinking about something else.

She closed the distance between them and poked his chest. "If I feel like I'm in danger, I will leave myself. I will not be removed from a room like some fragile doll!"

A faint smirk lit up his very, very distracting mouth as his gaze focused more clearly on her. She did not want him looking at her like that when she was upset with him for the sake of Marr' Dana.

"Is that what you're upset about?" He asked, though the words weren't formed into a question. It was more like he was musing to himself, amused at something.

She balled her hands into fists, letting the one at his chest drop to her side as she took a step back from him. "Of course that's what I'm upset about! I'm not some damsel in distress. What else could I have to be upset about? The fact that you 'claimed' me even when we both know it couldn't be further from the truth?"

She was starting to understand her brother's anger in those early years a lot better. She was close to ripping the arrogant elf's head off.

Thorn shrugged, still amused, the action careless. "Glad to see you appreciate me saving your life, and all that. You're welcome. And as for that last bit," he crossed his arms and grinned. "At least it sounded pretty, right?"

She gaped at him. "You call that saving my life?" Her eyes were wide with incredulity. "Just who was doing the burning in the first place?" She demanded. "'As for that last bit'," she quoted him, air quotes and all, "Pretty words are meaningless, you arrogant, foolish, male elf."

"Well, you have a point," he said, tapping his chin, "about the first bit anyway." He smirked again. "But I'd rather focus on those insults of yours." He tilted his head at her. "That last one, I don't think it's working. We both know you like that part."

She glared. She was starting to wonder why she had any opposition to Feng beating him up in the first place. The way she was feeling now, she would even point him out and tell Feng 'Here, go ahead! He needs to be knocked down a few pegs. Arrogant ihotar.' "In case you haven't noticed, there are many other males in this mansion alone whose 'maleness' I can like instead," she said instead. She didn't see how mentioning how much she currently wanted her brother to beat him up would be helpful at this moment.

He tsked. "Maybe, but you'd miss me."

"You only think that because you are assuming you're the best I've ever had. Not by a long shot, arrogant ihotar," she shot back.

Truthfully, he was pretty close. But there was no way she was admitting that right here right now. Foolish elf was arrogant enough as it was.

His eyes narrowed before he stalked toward her, very deliberately, forcing her to step back or collide with him. She backed up, but he didn't stop approaching until there was nowhere left for her to back up to, her back hitting the wall. He stopped just a few inches away from her, putting his hands on either side of her head.