Bab 552: Getting closer

"You call this fine?" Nicolai snapped harshly. His eyes were fixed on the marks that were turning purplish and his nostrils flared as if he were about to breathe fire. "This is anything but fine, Ariana." 

"I know," she spoke to him in a placating tone. "But it could have been worse; at least I am fine?" When she saw that he was still frowning, she smoothed the frown on his forehead and said to him, "Now stop frowning like this; there is no need for you to get angry now. That man is gone and no one knows where he is hiding." 

"It doesn't matter where he is hiding," Nicolai sneered. "I am going to drag that man out of his hole very soon." 

He then frowned and added in a swift manner, "But I still do not understand why this man is after you; his actions are confusing." 

Ariana's fingers, which were stroking his hair as he lay down in her lap at some point, froze. She swallowed and looked down at him, while Nicolai was already looking up at her.