Blond looked at me sharply.
Beard let go of my face.
For half a second I thought I’d managed to get under his skin without paying for it.
Then his hand came across my cheek.
Fast enough that I only registered the sound first.
The crack filled the room, my head snapped sideways, and a second later heat bloomed across my face as the metallic taste of blood spread through my mouth.
Okay.
That one actually hurt.
Without Cami, without healing already kicking in somewhere under the surface, pain felt different.
My eyes watered automatically, which pissed me off more than the slap itself.
I turned my face back toward him.
His expression had changed completely now. No irritation. No amusement.
Just cold. Just stone.
“Close your mouth.”
I tasted the blood on my lip and smiled.
“So Ja
