Small victory. But I'd take it.
That night, I studied the guard rotations carefully. Memorized patrol times, camera blind spots, all the information I'd been gathering for years.
Tomorrow Aria moved to my father's wing permanently. After that, seeing her would become infinitely more difficult. More dangerous.
Tonight might be my last chance for a while.
I waited until 2am. When the changing of guards created a three-minute window. Slipped through shadows I knew by heart. Avoided cameras with practiced ease.
Reached Aria's door. Picked the lock in seconds. Slipped inside.
She was awake. Sitting by the window in a nightgown, staring out at nothing. She turned when she heard me, and the relief on her face made my chest ache.
I crossed to her. Pulled her up. Wrapped my arms around her and just held on.
No words needed. We both knew what tomorrow meant. Both understood this might be our last private moment for weeks.
She buried her face in my chest. Her hands fisted in my shirt. I felt her shaking.
"What happens now?" Her voice was muffled. Small.
"We wait. We're patient. I'm almost ready to move against my father. Just need a little more time to finalize everything with Father Benedetto and the Council."
"How much more time?"
"Less than two weeks. Then we make our move. Present all the evidence. Force theCouncil to act."
"And if they don't? If your father has more influence than we think?"
"Then we run. All three of us. Disappear and never look back." I tilted her face up. "But it won't come to that. We have enough. We just need the timing to be perfect."
She nodded. Didn't look convinced but was trying to believe anyway.
I lifted her, carried her to the bed. Lay down with her curled against my chest. Just holding each other in the darkness.
Heavy. The knowledge that this might be our last night making every touch, every breath, feel significant.
"When you're in his wing," I kept my voice low, "when you're preparing for a wedding that's never going to happen, when everyone thinks you belong to Salvatore, I need you to remember something. You're mine. You've always been mine. From that first night in the club. You belong to me and nothing changes that. Not geography, not my father's delusions, nothing."
"Always yours." She pressed closer. "No matter what happens. No matter what I have to do or say or pretend. I'm yours, Kai. Only yours."
The certainty in her voice did something to me. Made the rage and fear transform into determination.
I was going to save her. Save all of us. And anyone who tried to stop me would die.
Simple as that.
We didn't talk much after that. Just held each other. Made love slowly, quietly, trying to memorize every touch. Every sound. Every feeling.
When it was over, we lay tangled together, her head on my chest, my fingers trailing patterns on her back.
"I love you." She whispered it into the darkness. "I know I'm supposed to be brave and strong and not say things that make this harder. But I love you. And I needed you to hear it again before tomorrow."
"I love you too. More than I thought I was capable of lovinganyone." I pressed my lips to her hair. "This isn't goodbye. It's just temporary distance. We're still in this together."
"Promise me you'll be careful. That you won't take unnecessary risks. That you'll protect yourself as much as you're trying to protect me."
"I promise to do whatever it takes to keep us all safe. That's the only promise I can make."
