“Are you mad?”
“Mad? I should be terrified of you right now.”
Pavel tipped his head. “Are you?”
He wet his lips and thought it over. There were a lot of emotions racing through him at the moment but fear wasn’t one of them. His gaze dropped to his multi-slate, but before he could decide what to do, Pavel shot forward as if to grab it.
Zane got it first, backing up until he hit the window, the desk still between them.
“What are you going to do, Doctor?” Pavel asked, nervousness threading his tone. Carefully, he set the ring box down and held out a hand. “Give me the device.”
He powered it on without breaking eye contact and shook his head.
“Gorgeous,” his voice firmed. “Give it to me. Now.”
A flood of messages and calls came through all at once, the dings that signaled them momentarily filling the spacebetween them. They sounded off for what had to be a full minute before the multi-slate finally went still in his hold.
Zane clicked the contact that had called the most and waited as it rang, not bothering with the attached earpiece.
Pavel swore. “No matter who you call for help, they can’t have you,” he growled. “No one is allowed to take you from me, bashert. Not even Kelevra. I won’t back down. I won’t lose—”
“Zane!” Lyra practically shrieked his name. “Good Light, are you okay? I saw what he did to you! Don’t worry. I’ve got—”
“I’m getting married to Pavel Hart, Majesty,” Zane interrupted, more focused on the way Pavel’s eyes widened and he went still. “I’m sorry, but I thought you ought to know.”
“What? No, Zane—”
He ended the call and tossed the multi-slate at Pavel, who caught it one-handed.
They stared at each other for a long moment before Pavel broke the silence. “Gorgeous…”
“Did you make breakfast?” Zane moved around the desk and headed toward the door. “I’m starving.”
And if he was also a bit freaked out by the massive life choice he’d just made on a whim?
No one needed to know.
Chapter 33:
What a beautiful day to be alive.
Phenomenal day.
Perfect day.
They were here, in their home, and his bashert was well fed and happy—Well, maybe not happy, per se, not if the permanent frown he’d been wearing for the past hour as they’d eaten in silence was any indicator, but they’d work on that.
Now they had all the time in the world to do it too. All the time because—
“Shut up.”
Pavel blinked at the sudden aggressive tone and innocently dropped his chin against his palm. “I didn’t say anything, gorgeous.”
“You were thinking it,” Zane grumbled. “I can see it written all over your face.”
“Ah, yes. The face of your future husband.”
He cursed and stood, taking his empty plate with him on the way to the kitchen. “I knew I was going to regret doing that almost immediately.”
