A Grim Love: Can't Fight Time Read Online Free PDF Page B

America’s Legislative, Executive, and Congressional branches. Except that they don’t check each other; they come together and equally make the laws. We do not have a specific monarchy that is above the rest. At least that’s what we say ,” Grim said with his hands clasped behind his back, sourly muttering the last sentence.
     
    Nina frowned at the tone he used with the last sentence. She was just about to ask what he had meant when he continued; “The three families are the Castoff, the Bloodspurn, and the Darklore. Each of these names reflect the history of their family.
     
    “The most powerful--or rather, wealthiest kingdom is the Castoff kingdom on the Northern plain. The second is the Bloodspurn, which is known to have the fiercest reapers. The last is the Darklore, it’s the only kingdom where the monarchy is matriarchal, and the queen is the oldest reaper to date.”
     
    Nina listened contentedly to him as he explained each family and their specific attributes. It wasn't obvious how he felt about the monarchy that ruled him, but she had to wonder how he felt about the world he lived in. “Grim?” Nina asked quietly, making Grim pause to look at her.
     
    He’d seemed so consumed in his description of the royal families that Nina had wondered if he would even hear her. “What kingdom are you under?”
     
    Grim paused in his walk and, as if on a string, Nina stopped with him. He raised a questioning brow at that, but Nina didn’t want to think of her reaction to him. She’d realized she had one. Subconsciously she matched his breathing, even though he said it wasn’t necessary for him to breathe, but when in the human world he tried to mimic humans as much as he could. If he leaned back she leaned forward. If he licked his lips she followed the action with her eyes. Nina didn’t want to examine why she was doing these things, or the many others that she refused to cop to.
     
    "Aren't you cold?" Grim asked her silkily, his blue-diamond eyes flashing with restrained power.
     
    As if on cue, goose bumps popped up on Nina's skin and her entire body shuddered. Grim smiled slowly, his look changing from a relaxed smirk into the smile the Big Bad Wolf might have given Red Riding Hood right before he ate her. "Here you are, standing with Death, and you're not cold or frightened? Did you somehow think you were safe?" Grim asked harshly, taking a menacing step towards her only for Nina to take a step back.
     
    But as soon as she retreated, she stopped herself. I don't retreat! The thought stuck in her mind like glue. She didn't back down or cower. If he had lied about not killing her and he was going to do it now, then she'd make damn sure she was standing on two feet and in his face while he did it.
     
    "Are you threatening me?" Nina snarled, pointing her finger at his chest and taking a brazen step towards him.
     
    She watched Grim cock his head in contemplation, and look right through her, as if he didn't even see her anymore. The thought scared her, and her defensive instincts kicked into high gear. "I'm not some dog that will lie down when threatened. If you want to kill me Grim, then you better be prepared to take me kicking, clawing, and screaming, because I'm not frightened of your alpha male horseshit!" Nina hurled the words, ready to fling her bag at him, and then bludgeon him with it!
     
    Grim just stood there and blinked slowly, looking like he was observing some type of new animal. After a moment his features began to relax and his body took on the relaxed looseness that characterized most people his "age." Very calmly he took a step back; "You are a curiosity, Amica," he finally said with a lopsided grin as he turned and began walking again.
     
    This time, Nina hung back, trying to get her emotions--and her fears--under control. She watched Grim stop and cock a brow, before she begrudgingly readjusted her bag and began walking towards him.
     
    "You'll have to forgive me, Nina; that was