“And then I found you.” My voice softened. “I never expected to fall in love with you. But I did. You saw something good in me when no one else did. You made me believe I could be better. Please, Emily. Forgive me.”
A tear slipped down her cheek, but she remained still.
I pressed on. “I had to lie. I had to deceive all of you to get what we needed from Balthazar. But I swear to you on everything—I never slept with Dahlia. I never loved her. I loathed her.”
Emily’s breath hitched, her gaze searching mine.
I turned to Olivia. “And Olivia… I’m sorry. I had to gain Balthazar’s trust. I had to play the role, steal his dagger, and retrieve your mother’s blade. It was all part of a greater plan.”
Olivia’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering across her face, but she remained silent.
I dropped to one knee, pressing my face against Emily’s belly, my arms wrapping tightly around her waist.
“I’m begging you to forgive me, Emily, and begging you. I worship you. I’ve been in agony over what I had to do to convince Balthazar of my loyalty. Your wounded expression has haunted me for months. Every night, I close my eyes and pray that you’ll forgive me one day. Let today be that day.”
A heavy silence settled over the room as I clung to her, my heart pounding against the gravity of my sins.
Then, at last, her hand fell on my head.
“I forgive you, Marcellious,” Emily sobbed.
Relief crashed through me. Rising to my feet, I pulled her into myarms, holding her as she wept against my shoulder. “Oh, my sweet, sweet Emily.”
“So, you’ve been helping Malik?” Roman’s voice was laced with disbelief.
I didn’t look at him. I couldn’t. My hold on Emily was ironclad—finally, she was where she belonged. “Yes, brother. I could tell no one.”
“There’s more you should know,” Malik interjected, but I ignored him.
Instead, I cupped my wife’s face between my hands, drinking in the love and pain swirling in her eyes. Then I kissed her—reverently—pouring every ounce of my devotion into the touch. When we finally pulled apart, I whispered, “Let me take you to bed, wife, and show you how much I cherish you.”
She didn’t hesitate. As I scooped her into my arms, she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck, her bright-blue eyes shining up at me with unguarded affection.
“I hope our connection lasts forever,” I murmured as I carried her toward the stairs.
“I want that, too,” she whispered.
I prayed she would never learn the truth about her father. It would shatter her.
But for now, my only hope was to mend the damage I had done—to heal the wounds I had carved into the heart of the woman I loved.
Still, a shadow lurked in the back of my mind. No one betrayed a demon like Balthazar and lived to tell the tale.
And I had the sinking feeling that soon, I would not be the exception.
Chapter 24
Malik
The pounding of Marcellious and Emily’s reunion echoed through the walls, each rhythmic thump vibrating like the steady beat of a war drum. Thump, thump, thump—as if two hearts had synchronized, lost in their cadence of passion. I smiled, captivated by the music of their love, a melody that resonated through the very bones of this house.
Roman and Olivia intertwined their fingers as they moved toward the settee, settling onto the plush cushions in quiet solidarity. Meanwhile, I clasped my hands at my waist and positioned myself before the crackling flames I had kindled earlier. The fire cast flickering shadows across the room, illuminating the contours of the room in molten gold.
“I’m sure, Roman, you’ve pieced together fragments of this story. But now, I will tell you who I am, what I am, and the history that binds us all together.”
The turret clock on the mantel ticked, its brass casing glinting in the firelight. A masterpiece of craftsmanship, its delicate gears and intricate hands measured time with meticulous precision. I had always admired such artistry—these relics of human ingenuity, reminders of potential rather than the depravity where I had spent most of my existence.
I turned my gaze to Roman and Olivia, their eyes locked onto me, waiting.
