Chapter 88: Chapter 88

~ NYSSA

Rowan seemed relatively unfazed whereas I felt like I was burning from the inside out.

I was meant to make his life hell, not the other way around, and yet here I was, squirming in my seat, unable to glance up at the server when he returned because Rowan’s words rang in my head like warning bells.

My stupid mate smirked to himself, taking bites out of his pasta as he watched me. I shot him a glare but that only made him smile harder.

“Do you like my choice?” he asked.

The answer was I did, it was the best thing I’d ever tasted. It was pure perfection but I’d be damned if I told him that.

Instead, I shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”

“You’re a terrible liar,” he drawled. “You moan a little with every bite.”

My cheeks flushed, a light sheen of color washing over them. “I do not.”

“I’m the one who has had to sit with you moaning for the past few minutes, trust me when I say… you do. It’s as amusing as it is frustration.”

“Do you do this always?” I asked. “Make women uncomfortable on dates?”

“If by uncomfortable, you mean turned on, then I wouldn’t know, I don’t take women on dates.” I opened my mouth to refute that I was turned on but before I could speak, he continued. “I can smell you, Nyssa, and I can see you clenching your thighs when you think I’m not looking.”

I didn’t think it was possible for my skin to grow hotter and I promptly looked away, desperate for an advantage in the verbal spar that I seemed to be losing terribly.

I mulled over his words when something suddenly stood out to me, something I could use to trap him in his own web of lied.

“You said you don’t take women on dates. What about your ex?”

His brows furrowed in confusion. “What ex?”

“The one whose floor you manhandled me on,” I drawled, feigning innocence. “I find it weird that you didn’t take her on a date and she has an entire portion of the palace that you won’t let anyone visit.”

Surprise coated his features for a moment. I saw the exact minute he realized what I was talking about and to his credit, he did manage to look a bit sheepish. He opened his mouth but promptly closed it before shrugging, choosing to shove another forkful of food into his mouth instead of speaking.

“Tell me about her,” I continued. “Was she fun? Was she a lycan too? Was she your age or older?”

“You seem awfully insistent to know about my ex.”

“You know all about mine so it only seems fitting. Besides, if there was anything about Henry that you wanted to know, all you had to do was ask.” I leaned forward on my elbows, locking eyes with him. “What was her name?”

“It’s not important.”

“Isn’t it? I would assume that your mother is arguably the most important woman in your life.”

He went deathly still, his fork mere inches away from his mouth.

For a long minute, silence stretched between us and then he sighed, sitting up straight and smoothing down the wrinkles on his shirt.

“You know.”

I nodded. “I do. It’s a funny lie you told.”

“I didn’t lie. You assumed and I didn’t correct you,” he shrugged. “You were jealous. I cannot control what assumptions you make regarding my past.”

I smiled ruefully. “Do be sure to keep that in mind whenever you’re jealous. After all, I can’t control the thoughts you have when you see me with another male. I think the server was cute, don’t you? I should go see if he needs some—”

He growled low. “Don’t you dare.”

“Was that a command?”

His jaw ticked. “You’re playing a dangerous game, Nyssa.”

“I’m not playing any games. I’m merely making friends. After all, what you think is your fault, right?”

A warning sound left his throat but that only spurred me on more. If he wanted to make me jealous, then I’d make him regret it. It was far too easy to piss him off.

“Unless you want a man’s death on your hands, little wolf, I suggest you rethink your strategy. I have no issues with ripping out his heart right here over dinner.”

There must have been something fundamentally wrong with me to think that his words were hot. My skin burned and my thighs clenched of their own accord. My mouth dried and all I wanted to do was leap over the table and haul his lips to mine.

It was absolutely fucking ridiculous.

I turned away from him, desperate to salvage some of my dignity when a buzzing sound cut through the air.

I relaxed considerably when I realized it was Rowan’s phone, it gave me enough time to catch my breath.

“Answer it,” I told him but he didn’t move.

“We’re on a date. I am not a complete asshole—”

“Just answer it,” I cut him off sharply, turning away to exhale deeply through my nose.

He pursed his lips but did as I asked, lifting the phone to his ears.

I could make out rustling and noise on the other end but I couldn’t hear whatever was being said. However, I watched Rowan’s expression through the corner of my eye and the stubborn set of his jaw and hardness in his eyes told me that whatever he heard was not pleasing.

He hung up and turned to me, eyes wild and nostrils flaring. “Is this some part of your revenge plot?”

“What are you talking about?”

“It was cute at first, but this is bullshit.”

My brows furrowed in confusion, my heart racing in my chest.

Rowan’s tone was no longer teasing and fun, instead, it had turned accusatory and his eyes bored holes into me, forcing me to shift uncomfortably in my seat.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Henry is at the border. He is asking to see you.”

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