deep sound of disgust. Like that was any better? Good grief. Was that real y the only choice
she had? Master or Guardian?
She shook her head at him. “Your mother named you Guardian? Real y? She must not have thought much
of you for that.” She’d meant it as a joking barb, but he went ramrod stiff as pain flared deep in his eyes—
something that told her she’d unintentional y struck a nerve.
Crap …
“I’m sorry, Guardian. I didn’t mean anything by that.” She reached out to touch him.
He shot to his feet and stepped back so fast, he almost tripped over his chair. “Don’t touch me.” Those
snarled, angry words came out like rapid gunfire.
She bal ed her hand into a fist as she saw a huge, fresh, ugly bruise on his cheek through the white
makeup. It reminded her of al the others marring his flesh—the bite marks she’d seen on his chest, thighs,
and neck. And it was then she ful y understood his secret.
His true pain.
“Has anyone ever given you a touch that didn’t cause you pain?”
Seth didn’t move as her question slapped him hard in the face. But the most painful of al was the harsh
truth. Once, a long time ago, he’d lived like a normal person. He’d had people he thought loved him. A family
who said he was a part of them.
But that had been a cruel lie. He’d have been far better off without knowing their fake kindness. Al that
had done was show him what he was missing. Show him what other people took for granted.
Show him what he was unworthy of having.
It doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as I, never mind share my name! How dare you name such a
wretch after me. If you think by whelping it you would endear yourself to me, think again .
With his father’s words ringing in his ears, Seth started away from her.
But she stepped in front of him, cutting off his retreat. Before he realized her intent, she laid a gentle hand
on his cheek that stil burned from Noir’s fist. The tenderness of it shocked him.
Closing his eyes, he savored the warmth of her touch, and tried to imagine a life where such a thing
wasn’t a rarity. But the truth wouldn’t let him have even that much comfort. It shouted angrily in his head,
reminding him of who and what he was.
Who could ever love a mongrel like you?
You’re disgusting. Pathetic.
Worthless.
Get out of my sight, wretch, before I vomit. Even when he pleased Azura or a she-demon, they threw him
out of bed the minute they were finished with him. He was only a tool to pacify a bodily urge.
Nothing more.
He mattered to no one and no one mattered to him.
Seth opened his eyes to see her staring up at him with kindness burning bright in her topaz gaze.
That lie slammed into his stomach with the force of Noir putting him through a wal . She didn’t give a
single shit about him and he knew it.
Solin was the one she loved. He was the one she’d come here to save.
A woman like her would never risk her life to save something like him.
Rage tore through him as he realized her ruse. He knew what she was trying to do and he hated her for it.
He snatched her hand away from his face. “What kind of fool do you take me for?”
She actual y managed to look shocked. “I don’t understand.”
Yeah, right. She knew and she was trying to play him. To weaken him. “I’m nothing to you, but an enemy to
get past. Don’t insult either of us by pretending otherwise.”
Lydia winced as his grip tightened on her wrist and he dragged her toward his bed. Panic swel ed inside
her as she feared his intent.
She started to fight him, until she realized he wasn’t going to attack her. Rather he manifested a chain that
ran from the bedpost to her ankle.
His eyes glittered like ice as he released her and then returned to his desk.
“You’re just going to leave me chained here?”
“Yes.” He opened his laptop.
“Real y?”
He refused to look at her. “Is that not what I said?” He started typing something.
She was
she had? Master or Guardian?
She shook her head at him. “Your mother named you Guardian? Real y? She must not have thought much
of you for that.” She’d meant it as a joking barb, but he went ramrod stiff as pain flared deep in his eyes—
something that told her she’d unintentional y struck a nerve.
Crap …
“I’m sorry, Guardian. I didn’t mean anything by that.” She reached out to touch him.
He shot to his feet and stepped back so fast, he almost tripped over his chair. “Don’t touch me.” Those
snarled, angry words came out like rapid gunfire.
She bal ed her hand into a fist as she saw a huge, fresh, ugly bruise on his cheek through the white
makeup. It reminded her of al the others marring his flesh—the bite marks she’d seen on his chest, thighs,
and neck. And it was then she ful y understood his secret.
His true pain.
“Has anyone ever given you a touch that didn’t cause you pain?”
Seth didn’t move as her question slapped him hard in the face. But the most painful of al was the harsh
truth. Once, a long time ago, he’d lived like a normal person. He’d had people he thought loved him. A family
who said he was a part of them.
But that had been a cruel lie. He’d have been far better off without knowing their fake kindness. Al that
had done was show him what he was missing. Show him what other people took for granted.
Show him what he was unworthy of having.
It doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as I, never mind share my name! How dare you name such a
wretch after me. If you think by whelping it you would endear yourself to me, think again .
With his father’s words ringing in his ears, Seth started away from her.
But she stepped in front of him, cutting off his retreat. Before he realized her intent, she laid a gentle hand
on his cheek that stil burned from Noir’s fist. The tenderness of it shocked him.
Closing his eyes, he savored the warmth of her touch, and tried to imagine a life where such a thing
wasn’t a rarity. But the truth wouldn’t let him have even that much comfort. It shouted angrily in his head,
reminding him of who and what he was.
Who could ever love a mongrel like you?
You’re disgusting. Pathetic.
Worthless.
Get out of my sight, wretch, before I vomit. Even when he pleased Azura or a she-demon, they threw him
out of bed the minute they were finished with him. He was only a tool to pacify a bodily urge.
Nothing more.
He mattered to no one and no one mattered to him.
Seth opened his eyes to see her staring up at him with kindness burning bright in her topaz gaze.
That lie slammed into his stomach with the force of Noir putting him through a wal . She didn’t give a
single shit about him and he knew it.
Solin was the one she loved. He was the one she’d come here to save.
A woman like her would never risk her life to save something like him.
Rage tore through him as he realized her ruse. He knew what she was trying to do and he hated her for it.
He snatched her hand away from his face. “What kind of fool do you take me for?”
She actual y managed to look shocked. “I don’t understand.”
Yeah, right. She knew and she was trying to play him. To weaken him. “I’m nothing to you, but an enemy to
get past. Don’t insult either of us by pretending otherwise.”
Lydia winced as his grip tightened on her wrist and he dragged her toward his bed. Panic swel ed inside
her as she feared his intent.
She started to fight him, until she realized he wasn’t going to attack her. Rather he manifested a chain that
ran from the bedpost to her ankle.
His eyes glittered like ice as he released her and then returned to his desk.
“You’re just going to leave me chained here?”
“Yes.” He opened his laptop.
“Real y?”
He refused to look at her. “Is that not what I said?” He started typing something.
She was
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