Taste

n the ornate table with a quiet clink. He stretche

e smooth as silk. "I'll m

e was something unsettling about the way he s

?" she repeat

ay with an elegant wave of his hand. "You must

if on cue, her stomach betrayed her, letting out an audible grumble.

d, tilting his hea

ay where Damian had disappeared moments earlier, wishing he were still there. But he

dless corridors twisting and turning like a labyrinth. Arabella s

he asked, her voice echoin

smirk never fading. "Big enough to

ring," she muttere

ng countertops. It was surprisingly modern compared to the rest of the castle, with

o himself as he rummaged through its contents. Arabella li

cook?" she asked, trying to ma

cabinet. "Oh, I'm quite skilled in th

as he searched, and Arabella couldn't shak

hant. He pulled something from the cabinet, and Ara

kn

itchen light. His expression had shifted, his smirk replaced by something far da

ella stammered, instin

g in his hand. Arabella's back hit the e

g?" she demanded,

ip hovering near her face. His eyes bored into hers, his smile a c

ou food," he murmu

the edge of the table. She wanted to scream, t

of his wrist, he spun the knife around, reveali

not?" he asked casually, h

er mind struggling

holding it up. "Do you

t still heaving from the ad

knife in his hand with practiced ease. "Rela

ng way to anger. "You call that f

ebrow. "Don't be so dramatic. If I wanted

cut in sharply

standing there, his golden eye

id, his voice icy.

to the counter. "I was just trying t

didn't waver.

gh and held up his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. No need to get so wo

er body still tense as she

ention to Arabella. "Are you all right?" h

ill trembling. "What's his problem?" she

hrough his hair. "Aamon likes to push b

echoed, her voice rising.

have hurt you. He's reckless, but he

omforting," she mutte

ound him-and everyone else here. This place isn't safe, Arabella. I brought

xasperated. "You keep saying that, b

omething she couldn't quite identify-guilt,

ffed. "Of co

a step back. There was something about him-something com

Aamon is the least of your worries right now. I

with her fear. "I don't even know you,"

ession inscrutable. Finally, he said, "Because I'm the only

and Arabella realized with a sinking

ly. "But you owe me an exp

y. "Sooner or later," he agreed. "Now, come on. I'll ma

uestions. As much as she hated to admit it, Damian was right-she

her that trust wo