Haunting Shadows (Book 2)

Chapter 68

Andreas completely ignored Leita. It was as if her presence and words had not registered in his mind, or he had actively chosen to ignore them. Because even though she was trying to get his attention, he had not removed him lips from mine. His hands were cupping my cheeks, keeping me close to him. A flurry of emotions were sent spiraling within me, but I couldn’t ignore Leita. And I was still anger with him.

With all the force I could muster, I pushed at his chest, and he conceded. Before he had a chance to recover, I slapped him. He hadn’t been anticipating it because ever other time he had kissed me I was a melted snowman, unable to move or think. I glared at him, determined to maintain my resolve.

Leita was standing to the side, her face twisted in disgust, but managed to look gorgeous still. How did she do that? Andreas’ eyes never left mine.

“You can’t keep kissing me and thinking that it magically resolves everything!” I yelled at him.

Andreas hardly seemed fazed. It even seemed like my slap had zero effect on him. Instead, his lips were quirked up slightly at one corner and his eyes danced with amusement. He was the most confusing man on the planet.

“I truly don’t see your fascination with this witch, when you could have much better company,” Leita commented with a sneer.

My gaze cut through her. “What, like you? A fish out of water?”

In my peripheral vision I noticed Andreas’ smile widen.

“Was I speaking to you? I don’t think I was speaking to you,” Leita said with a fake sweet smile on her face.

My gaze drifted from Leita back to Andreas, who had chosen to remain quiet through this encounter, and then back to Leita. “You know what? You two enjoy each other’s company. My friends are still outside battling a dragon and I’m not going to let them get hurt because of whatever is going on with the two of you.”

I turned to walk out the door, but Andreas grabbed my arm and effortlessly pulled me back. I narrowed my eyes at him and tried to pry his hands off me. “You are not going out there even if I have to stay in here to make sure of that.”

I dug my nails into his fingers in an attempt to get him to slacken his hold, but nothing. It was like he was born with the inability to feel physical pain.

“So very protective of her. I can see why. She is quite the fragile create, unable to fend for herself.”

My rage and hatred for her knew no bounds. But before I could do anything, Andreas shot her a look that dropped the temperature in the room. I felt the presence of his ever looming dark cloud as it filled in the air around him, stretching over to me. I recoiled from him, but he did not let me go.

“There are some things, fish, that you couldn’t possibly understand. In the future, you should refrain from commenting on such things unless you would like to welcome my wrath.”

Leita’s eyes widened and she actually took a step back from Andreas. I didn’t think I would ever see her afraid until that very moment. Andreas’ tone had shook her as much as it had me.

“Andreas, let me go,” I said in a soft voice. His attention shifted back to me, and his demeanor seemed to lighten, not significantly, but some of the darkness lifted. He didn’t, however, release my arm.

“You are only going to run out if I do.”

I pulled against his hold, but as always, it was useless.

“You have no right to tell me what to do!”

Andreas suddenly let go, his anger suddenly directed at me. “Very well. Go then. Go and get yourself killed all because you are trying to prove a point. Heaven forbid you use some common sense and realize that there is nothing you can do to help. That you will only get in the way and cause someone to get hurt because they will try and protect you the moment you realize you don’t know how to protect yourself from fire yet. And let’s also forget that you know absolutely nothing about fighting dragons, and thus are completely unaware of the fact that our magic is completely useless against them. And not to mention, that the dragon was able to injure me, someone who has had years of experience with his magic and is widely considered as one of the most powerful sorcerers of all time. But yes, by all means. You, with almost no experience using magic, go out there and help.”

His words were sharp, just as he had intended them. I stood there, now actually feeling like an insolent child being scolded. Damn him for being right. But that didn’t mean his words hurt any less.

“What are you waiting for?” he demanded. “Go. I won’t stop you. If you are so eager to die, then be my guest. There is the door.”

His eyes were cold, and he was very, very angry. I knew I deserved his words, but they cut through me and it took every piece of my will power to keep my expression neutral. I would not allow him to win.

I took a deep breath and crossed my arms over my chest. My pulse was beating frantically, and I knew my voice would betray me if I said anything now. I bit the inside of my lip as I turned and headed for the door he was pointing at. He would not scare me. And if I did end up dying today, at least I would do so with people I cared about. At least I would not have been cowering while they got hurt.

I opened the door and went outside, not even bothering to glance back at Andreas. Vaguely, I could make out Leita saying, “Well, that went well. You sure told her.”