Chapter Forty-Five

Claire Claire was frightened to move. His suave nonchalance scared her. It seemed like one wrong move, and he'd snap, and she didn't know what he was capable of doing to her. That maniac smile rubbed her every way but the right one. She couldn’t get her mouth to open, all her words ran into each other like a nasty game of bumper cars. When she didn't speak, he chuckled and reached forward to pinch the tip of her chin. Claire stepped away from his touch. He slowly retracted his hand and shoved it into the pocket of his pants. "We'll work on that. I understand your reluctance. I'm sure you're upset because I didn't come get you myself—" Suddenly Claire's words found their way out. "Seriously? You think I'm upset about your lack of manners? I'm upset because you plucked me from my mate and have put us through hell. Not to mention turning and traumatizing the students. Can you not see the multiple problems here?" Tristan's light blue eyes twinkled in the lighting. "You must think