Every muscle in his body tensed. Before Zirra, he’d spent too many years of his childhood on his knees, begging his mother for clothes, food and affection, his efforts rewarded with nothing but pain and humiliation.
She’d hated him, because she’d hated his father, a wealthy Lord who’d already had a family and hadn’t wanted anything to do with his bastard son.
Tristan had never felt wanted…until he’d had a growth spurt at the age of fifteen and women began to notice him. Being the object of their desire…he’d only wanted more, more, more. Then Zirra cursed him. Now? He wasn’t sure what he wanted beyond his freedom.
“I just want to sleep,” she called. “Alone.”
She didn’t expect him to grovel, then. His muscles released their viselike grip on his bones, most of the tension seeping from him. “I must ascertain your chamber is properly bolted against intruders.” As good an excuse as any.
A heavy pause thickened the air until she uttered a long-suffering sigh. “All right. You may enter.”
He wasted no time, pushing his way inside. Light dripped like crystal tears from an overhead source, brightly illuminating the small room. Imperian light stemmed from lamori gems—stones that were alive—but he’d traveled the otherworlds, and he’d seen light sources like this one before.
Julia sat atop a sinfully decadent four-poster bed of pink silk sheets and mint-green shams, clutching a sheet to her chest. Her knees were up, her long honey-colored hair cascading like rays of sunshine around her face, shoulders and slender arms.
Her lovely green eyes met his, but she quickly glanced away. After a determined inhale, exhale of breath, however, she faced him once again. “I’m kind of glad you’re here. I’ve been thinking about you, and I wanted to tell you that I haven’t meant to be so ill-tempered,” she said. “I’m just… I don’t know. Two days ago I flipped a man off, then shoved him at the flea market just to beat him past the doors. Then I yelled at a perverted killer with a sword—that’s you, though I don’t think of you as a killer anymore.”
He arched a brow. “But you still think of me as perverted?”
“No, of course not.” She heaved a dejected sigh. “What’s wrong with me? I’m usually very reserved. I never speak out of turn. Since your arrival, I’ve done nothing but insult you over and over again, and I’m sorry. So very sorry. I don’t want to hurt you. It breaks my heart to think of hurting anyone the way—” She pressed her lips together.
What had she wanted to say? To think of hurting anyone the way…I have been hurt?
Yes. That. He ground his teeth. Who had hurt her and why? What kind of life had this woman lived? What hardships had she faced? And why did he suddenly want to lay the heads of her enemies at her feet?
No need to ponder. She was the only woman ever to offer repentance for hurting him in some way, and it had thrown him. Surely!
He offered her a half smile, unsure how to react. “You have nothing to apologize for, little dragon. I have enjoyed my time with you.” For the most part.
“I know you’re just saying that,” she said, shy again, “but I thank you, anyway.”
He opened his mouth to comment, but her next words stopped him. “I’m sorry for the kiss, too. I didn’t mean to let it get out of hand, or to lead you on.”
She looked so earnest, still so concerned for his feelings. First her apology, now this. A guan ren’s concern…so new to him, and yet it was the second time Julia had sought to soothe his damaged ego.
“Do you forgive me?” she asked, peering at him through the shield of her thick black lashes.
He could not refuse her. And he could not resist teasing her anew. “You are forgiven, Julia. As a novice, you knew not what you were doing.”
Her features crumpled, and her chin began to tremble. “You noticed, huh? That I’m a novice, I mean?”
She neared tears? Because he’d called her a novice? She had been hurt by others. Anger flared. “I just meant our kiss ended too quickly. A woman of more experience would have known this and continued kissing me.”
“Oh…oh.” Understanding dawned, and she began to smile. Next, she chuckled, the tinkling sound ringing in his ears. “So…aren’t you going to check to make sure my room is bolted shut?”
Playing his part, he checked both windows, making sure the locks worked properly. Curious about Julia, he also searched under the bed, finding nothing but old, dusty boxes. He even rummaged through her closet. The amount of clothing contained in the tiny space almost swallowed him whole. Could one tiny female possibly wear all of these garments?
“Um, excuse me,” Julia said, all traces of humor gone. “That’s my stuff you’re going through. My personal belongings.”
“Your personal belongings need organization. Ten monsters could hide in here, and you’d never know it.”
“My closet is not a clown car. Also, no monsters are hiding inside it. I know because I double check every night,” she muttered.
He emerged holding a yellow, green and orange floral-print gown. A large mass of painted foliage covered one side. “This is the most hideous garment I have ever beheld. Do your people truly wear such things?”
She lifted her nose high into the air, and he had the distinct impression she prepared to give him another lecture. She didn’t. She settled for, “That’s an authentic baby doll dress from the sixties.”
“It is authentic dung.” He knew his eyes were gleaming with mirth as he tossed the gown at her. “Put it on. I want to see it in all its glory.”
“I most certainly will not put it on,” she said, catching the material with a humph. “Why don’t you wear it and look in a mirror? Now you’ve checked my room. It’s time to go nighty-night.”
“I have not barred the room against supernatural threats.” He crossed
