“Rule four,” he announces louder. “I will protect you from all harm no matter what. Always.”
My head snaps up. The words hit me harder than I expect... because they’re deeply confusing.
For a second, I swear he means it. Not out of honor or out of duty, but something darker and needier. Like the idea of someone else hurting me offends him personally. Like my safety belongs to him as much as my looming title as his wife.
My breath stutters. I pretend I don’t care. But I do.
“Oh?”
He nods once. “Is that not what real love looks like to you? A husband that would break knees and skewer hearts if they dare make what’s mine hurt?”
His expression shifts just a hair, although the idea of giving protection seems unfamiliar to him. As if it tastes strange on his tongue.
“I… I guess,” I breathe.
“Good.”
A strange warmth flickers in my chest.
Then—
“Final rule,” he says, voice dropping dangerously. “Devushka… you will never lie to me.”
“I... I won’t.”
“If you do,” he continues coolly, “I will not punish you.”
I exhale.
He finishes:
“I will kill you.”
The relief dissolves instantly.
I can only blink.
Silence hangs in the air. I stab my food and chew without tasting it, throat too tight to even swallow. When I can no longer pretend to eat, I rise slowly from my chair.
“I’m going to my bedroom.”
Gustav glances up lazily. “Would you like to sleep in my bed?”
My heart slams into my ribs.
“Uh, no,” I whisper.
He smiles. “Me neither. We’re already compatible.”
He doesn’t care.
He doesn’t… want me?
I don’t know why, but a tear slips down my cheek before I can stop it. This is just... a lot to take in.
I swipe at it hard and turn to leave.
“Stop,” he commands.
