He swallowed. “You’re my wife. And if you’ve taught me anything about loyalty, it’s that sometimes it requires you to let people decide for themselves. Even if their choice might destroy you.”
The enormity of that stunned me into silence. I didn’t know how I could possibly have taught him that. I hadn’t realized it myself until just five minutes ago.
But maybe that was the power of loving someone. It made you see them as more than they were, as whatever grander thing they would grow into.
I ran my fingers along the line of his jaw. “Did you also know I’d change my mind?”
“Ibelievedit,” he said. “And I know it might not have looked like it, but that was me fighting for you, just now. I may have had to kick Vick in the face just to get Amryssa away from him. Get her to you.”
My throat worked. “You wanted me to have those minutes with her?”
“I wanted you to have a choice. Call it one last toss of the ring. An incredibly desperate one, but a toss, nonetheless.”
I lost my voice, then found it again. “Then...I think you may have caught me, this time.”
His eyes heated. “Did I?”
“Yes. And now I want...you. I want to stay with you. I want you to stay with me.”
Emotion swirled in his face. He blinked hard. “Well, lucky for you, we’re married. Which means you’re stuck with me, whether you like it or not.”
I laughed. “Honestly, how are you so perfect? Justhow?”
He gave me a saucy smile. “I was born this way. Well, no. That’s a lie. I worked very hard at it. But my raw charisma didn’t hurt. Or my overwhelming good looks.”
A scuffed chuckle warmed my chest. This man. I would never tire of his arrogance.
He cupped my face, and I tilted my cheek into his touch.
“How are you?” he said.
I knew what he was asking—whether the nightmare was about to crack my defenses and carry me away on its bitter flood. But the distorted shadows, for all that they scrabbled at my skirts, seemed distant.
“I’m...quiet, I think,” I said. “Safe. Inside myself.”
His half-smile bled into something wide and deep. “Gods above. How areyouso perfect?”
I shrugged. “Just pure, dumb luck, I’m pretty sure.”
He chuckled. His thumb smoothed across my cheekbone. “So now what?”
“Now, you should take me somewhere and make love to me. As soon as possible.”
Brightness flared in his eyes. “That can be arranged.” His gaze fell to the wounded hand clutched against my chest. “Let’s just take care of that, first.”
Before I could ask what he intended, he stalked toward Vick, who lay chained between two trees. His voice had gone. He writhed and thrashed, his mouth open in a never-ending scream. But only hoarse silence emerged.
Kai fiddled with Vick’s belt. I frowned, but when he straightened, he held the dagger.Mydagger.
My conduit to Zephyrine.
Hope—that horrible, treacherous, wonderful thing, fluttered into my throat. Would the blade still work? Allow me to talk to the goddess? Maybe to Amryssa? Were they even different entities, anymore?
Kai came and handed it over. I took the knife with my good hand, relishing the feel of the familiar antler handle.
It hummed, no different than before.
A star kindled beneath my ribs.Hello?
