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“Well,” Thea smiled archly, “look what the cat dragged in. A drowned rat. Half-drowned, at any rate. Easy enough to finish the job.” Her eyes dropped to the rock Skye lowered. “Oh, Skye...” she tsked in mock disappointment. “Don’t misunderstand me,” she assured as Skye flushed, “I love to see this side of you. Not so milk and water after all. But still, I have so much to do today, I really can’t have you throwing rocks at my head now, can I? Hunter?”
At her voice, Hunter straightened his head and looked at Thea. His gaze was admiring. Doting even. He looked...lost.
“Take care of this will you? Nothing drastic. Just lose the rock. I think having your former favourite here to witness your renewed devotion to me will be amusing.”
Hunter turned to Skye, moving gracefully towards her. He looked at her, and for an instant her heart leapt as his stunning gaze met hers.
Without recognition. Or just without interest?
Her heart plummeted, fear crawling over her. “Hunter?” she tried to say but made no sound. His beautiful face was frighteningly devoid of everything that she usually read there. He stopped in front of her. His eyes, black as obsidian, ran carelessly over her face, as if she barely registered.
She forced volume into her voice. “Hunter.” She tried to project her love, her belief in him in his name, but it came out like breathy fear. With utter disinterest Hunter took her unresisting wrist and pried the stone from her frozen hand. For a moment he hefted the rock in his hand, still holding her wrist. She held her breath, wondering if he was about to raise it and smash it into her skull. He looked down at the wrist he held, and back to her face. Something flickered across his expression, like a ripple of Hunter. But it was gone as quickly as it had appeared. Tossing the rock aside he turned his back on her and returned to his position in the group of three.
Hot tears scorched Skye’s cheeks, but Thea’s laughter choked them to a halt. Skye rubbed her face with her hand and fought to make her expression neutral. This wasn’t over. And close to Hunter was better than dead. There was still a chance to end whatever this was.
As if reading her thoughts, Thea shook her head, laughter colouring her words. “I told you his affections were fickle. Better to have loved and lost, don’t they say? Is it true?”
“Stolen is not the same as lost.”
Thea’s eyebrows rose and another peal of her laughter rang out. “Ooh, ouch,” she mocked. “Your words sting me. I utterly repent winning back the adoration and devoted service of my lover. Poor me, getting all of him back.”
“Not all of him,” Skye clarified coldly.
Thea’s smile vanished, and her eyes narrowed in hatred. “You’ll keep,” she promised softly. “But I want you where I can see you. Stand there,” she ordered, pointing between Hunter and Liam. “I think I can manage the extra pleasure of watching your anguish.”
Everything in Skye wanted to run, but she wasn’t going anywhere without Hunter. Skin crawling, her heart hammering and breaking at the same time, Skye took her place between them on Lithus Rock, trying not to look at Hunter’s blank face, trying not to tremble, and failing at both.
