He was certain.
He would do whatever it took to ensure Aimilia would have a shot at becoming the Head of House Mitis through her own merit. And if that meant she never married him… so be it.
He loved her so much he would rather her be happy even if it meant never having her love in return.
Her eyes fluttered open for a brief moment and her hand caught his. She whispered, “Nikias… I don’t blame you, and I’m glad you kept me in Areator and took me with you. I wouldn’t trade that for anything.”
Then her eyes shut again and Nikias pulled her hand, pressing his lips to her palm, and he breathed out without a sound, “Amata.”
Beloved.
She wouldn’t hear it, but Nikias could not hold it in any longer.
He didn’t need to hear it back in this moment. He just needed to finally speak it into existence.
Chapter 48
AIMILIA
“Ithink you’ll find I am working to find the best solution for all of the parties involved in this, including you. A little gratitude wouldn’t be out of place.”
Aimilia had thought the agony she’d been in the last few months was the worst she’d ever experienced. Then Gavril came through those gates with a Sordes she-wolf on his horse and in his cloak.
Reality was finally settling in. How could it not after the dinner she’d just attended with the royal family?
“Marcella. My wife. That’s her name.”
And then Gavril had had the gall to look directly at her as he drove the dagger in deeper, reminding her that it wasn’t her. But Aimilia loved Gavril the way she breathed, so she’d voiced her support as delicately as she could even though every second sitting beside him and seeing another woman’s name on his wrist clawed at the already tattered shreds of her heart.
She was so sick of crying. It had been all she’d done as of late, but she couldn’t seem to stop. Not until there was no water left in her to cry out.
Aimilia had cried herself dry again, sitting in her room at the palace, curled up in a chair beside the window. After being discovered last time, she wasn’t eager to go find somewhere else to cry. The last thing she needed was to see Nikias in this state.
She was tired of being sad.
Aimilia stared at the moon shining above Areator, its light striking her face.
No.
She had made Gavril a promise that night she would be his ally, but when tomorrow came he would have to deal with the Aimilia whose heart he’d broken.
Midnight came and went.
Aimilia’s fury began to bubble up in her veins.
How dare he?
She didn’t care what he might have said to his parents to cover his tracks. All that mattered was the fact that there was now a she-wolf taking Aimilia’s place. Gavril had chosen a she-wolf overher.
She’d been his closest friend, his most loyal and staunchest defender for years. She’d loved him down to the depths of her soul and showed it with every breath she breathed.
And he chose to throw that all away for the first she-wolf who threw herself at him.
A knock sounded on her door. Aimilia blinked. Who would possibly be there so late? If it was Gavril?—
“Commander? Are you awake?”
Nikias?
