Page 24

“There what is?”

“The part where you pretend you’re the cleverest person in the room.”

One eyebrow arched. “I don’t pretend.”

Before Asterion opened his mouth to answer, Ria casually pointed a finger at him. A tiny blue spark leaped from her fingertip.

Zap.

A sharp shock shot through his shoulder, making him jerk in his chair.

“What was that for?” he demanded, rubbing the spot.

Another spark flashed.

Zap.

This one caught him square in the arm. His muscles twitched involuntarily.

“Oi!”

She went back to reading the book. Without so much as looking at him, she calmly turned another page. “The second one was because you asked.”

He stared at her in disbelief. “And the first?”

She finally looked up, her lips curving into the smallest, most satisfied smile.

“The first was for being an asshole.”

For a heartbeat, Asterion could only blink at her. Then, despite himself, he barked out a laugh.

Ria’s annoyed expression lasted all of three seconds before it cracked. The corners of her mouth twitched upward, and then she let out a soft giggle that quickly turned into full laughter.

“You should’ve seen your face,” she managed between laughs.

Asterion shook his head. “I’ve just been assaulted.”

“You’ve been mildly inconvenienced.”

“You attacked me.”

“You earned it.”

He couldn’t argue with the confidence in her voice, even if he completely disagreed with her reasoning. For some reason, the exchange seemed to dissolve the tension that had settled between them over the past few days. The room no longer felt like a battlefield where every sentence had to be defended.

“Can I ask you something?” He leaned back in his chair.

“You just did.”

“Another thing.” He rolled his eyes.

“Go ahead.” She smiled.

“How do you get through to Korinnae?”

Ria blinked. “What do you mean?”

“She listens to you.”