One eyebrow slightly rose when he listened to me. “If it doesn’t work out? Given everything that’s transpired and her declaration of undying love for you, that’s a very odd thing to say.” He continued to stare at me with accusation in hisgaze, like he wanted to know more but knew better than to pry.
I knew Lily loved me beyond measure, so I hoped she would stay. But I really didn’t know how she would react, not when my betrayal was so treasonous. Her opinion of me so high, her trust in me solid, and telling her this might make her question everything about me. Make her wonder if I’d deceived her in other ways.
And that could be our downfall.
“After all of this, you want to leave her?” Viper asked.
“No, I want to marry her,” I said. “But she may not feel the same way.”
“I think she does, Callum.”
“Yes…for now.”
His eyes shifted back and forth between mine, his curiosity piqued, clearly wanting to ask for more but deciding against it. Then he gave a slight nod before he turned away. “I wish you good luck…or maybe I don’t.”
5
TALON
I was back on my feet once again, my body finally healed from the trauma of the cursed blade. The platinum was still a part of my skin, constantly absorbing the curse with its purity. As time went on, the platinum started to fade, changing color closer to that of coal or lava rock. It was a contrast against my olive skin, the ugliest scar anyone could ever have.
But I was still here, so I was grateful for the hideous mark.
I’d started to train again, to build the muscle that I’d lost from lying in bed for months. I worked with Hawk at the soldiers’ barracks, sparred with him while he used his left hand to give me a fighting chance.
When I took Lily out for a drink, we didn’t discuss anything deeper than the moment we were in. I knew she’d been through a lot, and I just wanted to enjoy her company. Not ask her what life had been like in the underworld, if she still wanted to be with Callum, or what her plans were for the future.
So we got a drink, played some poker, and kept it light.
Pretended none of that terrible shit had happened.
I walked into my study, where Viper was waiting for me in his full suit and armor out of respect for meeting with a king. Although, he was the one person who didn’t need to go through the charade.
Instead of sitting behind the desk, I took one of the armchairs and faced him. “Thank you for coming all this way.”
“Thank you for offering me a gift. As I said before, I expect nothing but your allegiance in our time of need.”
“I understand, but I still wanted to give you something else as well.”
He gave a slight nod. “Before we continue, something has plagued my mind since yesterday.”
“I’m listening.”
“I spoke with Callum in the courtyard when we ran into each other.”
Must have been when I’d taken Lily out to the pub.
“I know my own personal interests make me prejudiced against him, but he said something that’s drawn my suspicion.”
Even though Callum wasn’t my first choice for my daughter, I’d come to accept him. To relate to him and his heartache, because we had so much in common. And I couldn’t deny that his love for Lily seemed genuine. But the fact that he was everthe god of the underworld would always make me uneasy. “What was it?”
“He said I would be a worthy option for her if it didn’t work out between them.”
I raised an eyebrow. “I don’t understand your suspicion.”
“It was the way he delivered the last part—if it didn’t work out between them. Why would a man say that to his rival? As if he has doubts. After everything they’ve done for each other, how could he possibly have doubts?” He cocked his head, resting his chin on his closed knuckles. “Doesn’t make sense to me.”
“I understand what you’re saying.”
