"No one asked you. Please leave," I say as I move to the side and gesture toward the door. Or even better, he can use those disappearing skills of his to get the hell out of my room.

"It was my fault," he adds in a low voice, his eyes affixed to the red stain on the napkin I'm holding to my cut.

"I won't hold it against you." I roll my eyes. "You're absolved. Now you can go." I wave him to the door—again.

He doesn't move.

He's rooted to the spot as he stares at my hand.

"It will not take long," he murmurs, taking a step closer to me. "Just a moment."

"Ze, I said no. What do you not understand?"

"You are bleeding, human," he hisses.

"So? It's my business if I'm bleeding or not," I say, exasperated. "Why do you think I would let you anywhere near me after everything you've done?"

"Human," he grits out, coming closer.

"Stay away!" I move out of his reach, retreating deeper into the room. "You're rude and a liar, and I don't want anything to do with you," I tell him resolutely.

"When did I lie?" He swivels to stare me down.

"Really, Azerius?" I shake my head in disgust. "Are we going to pretend you didn't lie about that?"

"I..." He blinks. "I did not lie. I merely omitted the truth."

"And those tattoos?" I ask as I look him up and down. "You deceived me."

"You do not understand," he groans, still moving toward me.

"What is there to understand? That you're an awful person? Trust me, I already got that." I let out a bitter laugh.

He compresses his lips, his body taut.

"Everyone knows Azerius. No one knows Ze," he says as if that explains everything. "No one knows...that Ze."

"Well, it seems I don't know either, so please get out." I point toward the door.

"Human, stop being so stubborn and let me explain."

"What is there to explain? Thea told me what you've been threatening her with. I can't believe anyone would stoop that low." I sneer at him. "You are an awful man, Ze or Azerius or whoever you are. I thought there might be some good in you, but oh, I was sorely mistaken." I shake my head.

He frowns, tilting his head to the side.

"She told you?"

"That you would threaten her with something that would get her killed? Blackmail her, even? How could you?" I demand sharply.

"Erithea did it with her own hand and it is up to her to bear the consequences of her actions," he replies matter-of-factly.

My eyes widen at his nonchalance, anger spiking inside of me anew.

"You are vile. How could you shame her for something like that? And why? Because she's a woman? Because you have your fucked-up laws that look down on women?"