When he did emerge, he had a hot cheeseburger on a plate. Jenn's eyes fell to it as he set it beside her.
"If you let me help you, you'll be able to grip it before it's cold," Darian said.
Her stomach roared. Jenn nodded. Darian resumed his seat on the ottoman and took her hands again. Jenn tried not to look at him, focusing instead on the scent of cheeseburgers. Her eyes went to his long fingers and roped forearms then upward to the thick biceps and wide shoulders. She found herself remembering what his body looked like when he stripped down to spar with her, how the muscular length of him felt against her own body when they were locked in combat.
"Jonny thinks you're going to destroy one of the worlds," she said. "He wanted to know your intentions, or he'd find a way to kill you."
"Would solve your problem of being mated to me."
"I was planning on being killed by Others," she said.
"Sorry to disappoint you."
"No, Darian, I'm sorry to disappoint you."
He looked up at her quiet words.
"I … I can't, Darian," Jenn said and touched the symbol at the small of her neck.
Darian took her hand and lowered it. "Yes, you can. It's easy. Just don't fight it."
"It's not right."
"Are you going to try to convince me again that you don't care for me?" he asked. "I'll admit, I don't know how you walked away from me like you did in the wine cellar."
Pure terror, she answered mentally. Out loud, she said, "I'm not going to put you in more danger."
"Try again."
She raised her eyebrows at his challenge. "I don't want to be involved with anyone."
"Not convinced."
"I can't have you killing off sources I sleep with."
"You won't be sleeping with any more sources," he snapped. "Try again."
"What can I say to convince you?" she demanded.
"One thing. Tell me Claire was right to betray me. If you can say those words, I'll let you walk."
Darian waited. Jenn couldn't formulate the words. They went against every fiber of her honor. She'd hated Claire when she found out. Jenn still remembered the first time she'd seen Darian. He'd been scarred so badly, he was hardly recognizable as a person. His now vibrant eyes had been empty, and he'd spent many days just sitting with Sofi in the study. She recalled taking messages from Dusty to Sofi and how, at first, Darian hadn't even been able to register the sound of another human's voice.