He shrugged. “You might enjoy it.”
“Ha. I doubt it.”
Humor still danced in his eyes as she stood on her own, bypassing his offered hand. “Are all Breed females this skittish around men?”
“Are all Atlantean males so certain of their own charm?”
He smirked. “This one is.”
Brynne snorted a laugh as she took the broken cup inside to throw it away. He followed.
“I’m Ekizael, in case you’re too shy to ask. Friends call me Zael.”
She pivoted to face him. “In that case, hello, Ekizael. I’m Brynne.”
He made an amused sound in the back of his throat. “Distracted, skittish and dismissive. How intriguing.”
“Arrogant, presumptuous and insolent. How predictable.”
“Predictable?” He chuckled. “That’s one thing I’ve rarely been accused of.”
Why did her body have to react as if he’d just said something sexual? She pushed the sensation aside. “Well, they say there’s a first time for everything.”
“Hmm,” he said. “By the way, arrogant, presumptuous and insolent all mean roughly the same thing.”
Brynne smiled sweetly. “Since we just met, perhaps I thought it would be too rude to say annoying.”
Now he frowned. “Am I annoying you? I apologize. From the pretty flush of your cheeks and the uptick of your pulse, I thought we were getting acquainted rather enjoyably. Exchanging some friendly banter. Possibly even flirting.”
God help her, but the heat in her face flamed even hotter now, and all over, her skin felt too warm, too tight beneath her clothes. She lifted her chin. “I don’t have time for banter, and I never flirt.”
“Really?” His voice was somewhere between a growl and a purr, a sound that sent her blood drumming in her temples and in several points lower. His gaze drank her in shamelessly before returning to hers. “That is a tragedy, Brynne.”
Before she could respond with a searing retort, several pairs of footsteps approached. Carys strode in alongside Jordana and Nova.
The three women stopped abruptly, falling into an odd silence as if they too could feel the electricity in the air.
Jordana smiled brightly. “Brynne, I see you’ve met my friend, Zael. Isn’t he charming?”
Brynne raised a brow in the Atlantean’s direction. “Charming doesn’t even begin to describe him.”
Zael’s chuckle was meant for her alone. “Until we meet again, Brynne. The pleasure was mine.”
“Yes, it was,” she agreed, smiling pointedly. She turned to Carys. “Ready to go?”
“All set.”
Thank God. Brynne couldn’t get away fast enough from Zael and his disturbing effect on her. Hopefully, it would be a good long while before she ever found herself in the arrogant Atlantean’s presence again.
CHAPTER 30
Little had changed in the long years that Rune had been gone from his father’s castle Darkhaven.
The musty, cool dampness of the old stone walls and worn slate floor seeped into his bones the instant he was brought inside by his uncle and the other armed guards. Their footsteps echoed hollowly as they progressed down the main passage into the heart of the ancient fortress.
“Fineas is waiting for you down below,” Ennis told him. “Reckon you remember the way, eh, boyo?”
Rune didn’t have to ask where they were taking him. There was only one thing below the main floor of the stronghold. And, yes, he still recalled the path, down the spiraling flight of stairs, then through the winding corridor of the underground portion of the keep.