“Xander, I know who you are. You have shown me what you have done when you are not in control, and you have been honest with me about what you have done when you are. There is good and bad in everyone, and I accept every part of you.”
“Even the irredeemable parts?” he asked, his usual passive tone laced with shame and worry.
Adriana brought her hands to cup his face, her thumbs running over his cheekbone. “I see every part of you, every sinful part of your soul, and I would not change a thing.”
“That would make you a sinner, too.”
“Then I will be your sinner.”
The clock hanging on the wall struck midnight. People cheered, some drank, some danced, and the band continued to play their beautiful music. Xander’s grip on her waist tightened as he pulled her even closer, his head dipping to press his lips against hers. A low, satisfied sound rumbled from within his throat as she kissed him back.
His sinner.
He thought her to be nothing of the sort. She was his saint, his saviour, the only goddess he would ever pray to. But she was right—she was his and he was hers. And he would do anything for her. He loved her.
He loved her with everything he had, everything he was. It was a possessive, all-consuming thing that threatened to eclipse everything else. He had been told by many that love would conquer all, and now he finally understood what that meant, for the adoration he held for Adriana was more powerful than anything he had ever felt.
It terrified him, the way he felt this monstrous protectiveness bloom, an urgent need to shield her from a world that didn’t deserve her. He would never cage her, never restrict her from anything, he knew he was better than that. He may not be a good man, not truly, but for her, he was willing to try and become something better, to shape the world into something better. Even if the path ahead was stained crimson.
He reluctantly pulled back away from her kiss. “Adriana, I—”
“Well, look who it is!” a snivelling voice sounded behind him. “If it ain’t the lovely Adriana. Having a good start to the new andglorious year of 1884, I take it? Haven’t seen you round here in a while!”
Adriana rolled her eyes as she turned her attention to the two men standing close by. Xander recognised the tallest one, who had stupidly decided to open his mouth, as Samson, the son of the local butcher, but he couldn’t place the other.
“We reckoned you thought yourself too good for us now. How’s life in that big old house of yours, Clarke?”
“And here with Lord Duran, unescorted?” the other joined in, his voice just as grating. “My, my! That ain't proper for a lady, is it? Not proper at all.”
Xander’s fists clenched at his side as he did all he could not to tear their minds apart at their implied insults. The two idiots were so focused on embarrassing her that they appeared to be ignoring him completely, but as a whiff of fear emanated from Samson, Xander realised with satisfaction they were actively avoiding looking at him at all.
“Evening, boys. How about I make you a deal?” Adriana smiled sweetly at them. “I will continue to enjoy my evening, and you will keep your mouths shut that you saw us here, yes?”
“And why would we do that?” Samson questioned with a sneer, a slight tremor now accompanying his voice. “You gonna pay for our drinks all night, Clarke?”
“You like to talk a lot,” Adriana said, as she gently nudged Xander aside to stand before them. “And yet you never like to talk about how you lost a full week’s earnings to me in our last game of cards. Perhaps the rest of your friends would like to know you were bested by a woman? Perhaps your lovely new fiancé would also like to know about your loss?”
“You bitch,” he stuttered, as he began to back away, his eyes darting around to check if anyone else had heard her.
“How right you are. Now run along and keep those lips sealed, lest I seal them for you.”
With that, the two of them scuttled away like terrified mice.
“And you thought Lamiae were fearsome?” Xander chuckled, as he pulled Adriana back into his arms, his body relaxing at her touch.
She smiled triumphantly up at him as she entwined her hands around the back of his neck. “You have your mind tricks, I have mine. I am not some damsel in distress.”
Xander laughed again, nodding in agreement. It was true. As much as he wanted to protect her, to shield her from idiots and enemies alike, she did not need his protection.
“I will always need you, though.” Adriana said.
Xander’s eyes widened, wondering how on earth she could sense his concerns. Though he shouldn’t have been surprised, she seemed to know him better than anyone nowadays, better than even he knew himself.
“And why is that?”
“Because I love you,” Adriana blurted out, her face reddening at her confession. “I have been so nervous to tell you. Ever since we spent that first night together in the summer, I wanted to tell you. I am sorry I did not say it sooner, I should not have waited—”
“I know,” Xander whispered, interrupting her rambling. “You did not need to say it, I knew it. And I will never take that love for granted. You deserve nothing less than the world, and though I cannot give you that, I will never stop trying to give you everything I can. My heart will always belong to you.”
