Shewashope.
For me, she was myonlyhope: that her love and purity could mend my tattered heart and sooth my stained soul. She was everything to me. How could I not, in return, do everything for her.
“Why? How?” she asked, voice a bit small, overwhelmed perhaps by my vehement admission.
I had to smile.
Because even when she seemed “small” it was a sign of hope to me. So many others would have puffed up and swaggered with false bravado if praised like she’d been. But her virtue meant she couldn’t see it, still so modest.
“You have no reason to be kind to me. I am a servant of someone who hates you, wants to destroy you. For all you know, I am the enemy. And I’m sure you don’t trust me, but even so… you’ve given me a chance. A chance to talk, to explain things, to try to sway you. Your kindness, to someone who doesn’t deserve it…thatgives me hope. Don’t you see?”
Her furrowed brow and puzzled expression told me she didn’t.
“Anyone else would have shooed me away or led me along to see how they could use me.”
“What makes you think I’m not using you? I did get you to buy me all those things.”
“That wasmysuggestion. And it didn’t hurt me at all, only Saldrea.”
“But how do you know I’m not using you to get to her?” she insisted.
“Are you?”
“Maybe, a little.”
“See! No one else would have admitted it!” I laughed, joy bubbling up at just how perfect Izzy was. “And frankly I’ve been telling you this whole time to use me to get to her, so I’m not even sure if that counts.” I felt that required more of an explanation so, I continued, “And I only suggested it because I have a feeling you wouldn’t have done it on your own.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” she muttered.
“But why…? Whymightyou have retaliated against her?” This was it. Her answer would show her what I was trying to say.
“Because she’s just so… infuriating! She’s a stuck-up princess who drives me nuts. Someone needs to take her down a peg or fifty.”
I laughed. There it was.
“What?” Izzy asked, still confused it seemed.
I quelled my mirth to explain. “Everyone in this world is terrified of Saldrea and her mother, and that tends to do two things to people. They either bow and scrape and wish toserve her and get on her good side, or they stay the fuck away from her. You… you see her as… an obstacle to overcome.ThatIzzy. That determination, that drive, that tenacity is who you are at your core andthatgives me hope.”
I saw that slowly sink in for her.
“Oh,” she whispered.
Perfect. She was so amazingly perfect. Her body was stunning and sexy, but it was her soul and her inner strength that made her like no other.
Her kindness had bored a hole through my layers of armor and pierced my battered heart. Her boldness showed me a way to live, that was unlike anything I’d ever known. Her spirit was a beacon, and called to me in ways I couldn’t ignore: my mate, my life, my joy.
I had a feeling she wasn’t ready to hear that part yet, though, so I reiterated my previous point.
“Why would I betray Saldrea for you? Partly because she’s a vicious and heartless person who I hate with every fibre of my being.”
“Glad to know I didn’t get the wrong impression of her,” Izzy snarked.
She hadn’t.
“But more importantly, becauseyou’vedone something no one else in my life ever has. Not my parents, not Saldrea, not my comrades in arms. You make me want to live, want to grow and enjoy this world. You’ve never once tried to hurt me, you’ve only everbeen goodto me, given me a chance. And I want to be worthy of that chance. So, yes, I’d betray Saldrea in a heartbeat ifyouasked me to.”
“Even your parents weren’t good to you?” she asked, horrified. “Not once?”
