Her mind kept replaying everything that ever happened between her and Kanda in this new and horrible light. He hadn't been gentle with her in their stolen nights; she'd taken it for eagerness and passion and desire. She'd liked it, thrilled to it. Now, it seemed like deliberate cruelty, a wish to do no more than to hurt her, perhaps hatred.

And she had been so stupid as to allow it all, to believe in it all. The thought burned. She gripped the anger instead to keep herself moving. She had to find a way to free herself. This was not the time to be sidetracked by feeling. (Any longer.)

Some instinct made her wish to freeze his very hands, bite them with cold and frost, to force him to let her go; but she was no mage, here. She was a priestess. She forced herself to concentrate on his words, to check them against likely falsehood and likely truth.

He has no reason to confess now. He could have escaped with the others instead. Even if he were forgiven, he could never expect enough trust to lead them into a further trap again. There was no strategic point in staying. Perhaps he was speaking the truth. Perhaps.

"I've heard you." The words were brief, harsh, and to the point as she narrowed her eyes and her jaw tightened. "Let me go and I'll hear the rest."