A vision of her giving me a stare with eyes that reflected her true power entered my mind. I imagined the candlelight dancing in her eyes and over her body, and the heat inside of me burned even hotter.
I noticed the way the soldiers had been staring at her. Even if it was subtle, my eyes missed nothing.
With the haircut, she could easily be a seductress.
The kind of woman who brought me closer to the flame before but could never burn me.
My wife.
My wife could set my world on fire, and I would burn with it.
Sighing, I stared at the flames until my eyes began to droop. The contrast between the cold in the air and the heat in my veins was lulling me to sleep. But my eyes never fully closed.
I could not sleep without my wife.
My heart pulled toward the door again, but I resisted. Instead, I chose to find what was driving the donkeys to madness. Giovanni met me at the same time, and his step was one behind mine. We were quiet as we entered the barn. We found the old man who took care of the asses asleep in the hay. He had had too much to drink and did not put them in their warm shelter for the night.
Giovanni picked up the old donkey whisperer and set him inside with them. The old man was breathing easily but did not even stir when Giovanni set him against the wall. He began to snore.
My shoulder hit the wall as I began my trek back to the wine room. Giovanni did not speak a word about my state (he valued his tongue), but he walked beside me as the terrain rose.
He cleared his throat, and a purl of smoke appeared in the dark air. “Permission to speak,SignorFausti,” he said.
I nodded to him.
“I have been bewitched by Thandie. With your permission, I would like to bring her to Italy.”
I stopped walking, and so did he.
“She is an undercover agent.”
“Truth.” A slow smile came to his face. Then it faded. “However, she has been dismissed from the position ever since the explosion at the warehouse. Our enemies know who she is.”
“I have men watching out for her.”
He nodded. “I appreciate this, but you would know how it would feel to have other men watching what is yours.”
I considered this and nodded. Then I said one word. “Ermanno.”
He nodded. “My son will fall in love with her, the same as he has fallen forSignoraFausti.”
I said nothing as I walked away from him and he kept a few paces back. I had never considered how a man of Ermanno’s age would have felt about another mamma figure in his space. However, my wife’s voice had been whispering in my ear, causing my mouth to move with the concern she would have had for him.
Perhaps it was a bit on me as well. My father did not consider what Bonfilia, the woman who was his wife on paper, would do to the sons not of her blood. Sons born out of duty to the family that were conceived the old fashion way, ultimately betraying her.
I did not feel this was the case with Thandie. My wife would not be friends with a woman who had a similar temper to Bonfilia. Amora was an excellent judge of character, and I trusted her—with my entire life.
I stopped at the entrance to the barrel room. I nodded. “Thandie will find safety behind our walls. You will be the lead soldier of her protection.”
Giovanni nodded and then disappeared into the night, and I disappeared into the room, the lantern still burning softly, causing shadows to sway along the walls. None as imposing as mine.
Sighing, I took a seat, pouring more drink.
My wife and all her unexpected changes were as imposing as my rising and falling shadow, and I felt possessed by something I rarely struggled with before— lack of control.
I would forfeit my crown, move away from my family, give it all up for my wife to always stay my wife. I knew what this world could do to a woman. How it could drive her to madness. Push her to become a version of herself that would eventually overshadow who she truly was.
Even though the sister of my heart had always been true to her husband, there were times he would fight for her metamorphosis to be hers alone and not forced on by forces that should have no say.
