Aimilia shifted, but he curled his fingers into the fabric, gently, always gently, but he could not let go. Not yet.
Aimilia whispered, “Once. She caught me off-guard, that’s all. Don’t worry.”
“Don’t worry?” Nikias bit out the words between thuds in his head. “My wretched mother laid hands on you and you expect me not to worry?”
“Nikias—”
“You lied to me she’d done nothing and you promised me. Aimilia—” Nikias brushed his thumb over the fabric. “Youpromisedme you wouldn’t be alone with them.”
“What was I supposed to do?”
“Send for me! She laid hands on you and you still risked answering her summons without sending for me?”
Nikias could only be grateful he’d found out from the healer he’d sent about the summons and managed to arrive before his parents did anything.
The thought of his father’s hand around her throat the way it had been around his—The glass crashing into her temple?—
Better him than her.
“What are you going to do about it?” Aimilia recoiled at her own words, reaching back and grabbing the edge of the dresser, but she couldn’t pull out of his grip.
He couldn’t let go.
He hadn’t been able to wash the metallic taste of his own blood out of his mouth. He shifted closer and held her gaze. “Do you think I intend to marry you and leave you at their mercy? Aimilia, tell me truly, how little do you think of me?”
“You think you would be able to prevent it while they live?” Aimilia’s voice cracked. “You think I could ever marry you knowing I’m agreeing to add myself to their list of bones to break?”
She wanted to heap new objections onto him?
These…
“You never gave it a second thought when it was supposed to be Gavril you would marry.”
Aimilia closed her eyes, knuckles whitening before she opened them. “Then I was a fool in love. I was too wrapped up in having him to think of the consequences if I did get him.”
“Aimilia, I swear—I will make a binding vow on my vitae should you wish it—whether you give me the honor of your hand or not, I will not let them hurt you. I will not let anyone lift a finger against you.”
He’d do anything to keep her safe. He’d take any blow from his father, let Hypatia carve him up a thousand times, if that was what it took.
Aimilia shook her head and looked away, tears welling up. “Did you tell Faustina that too?”
Nikias’ hand finally fell from her side as he shifted back. “Faustina didn’t know about any of this.”
She sniffled, and a few tears rolled out as she scoffed. “Was she blind?”
“She suspected, I know that much, but that wasn’t until later. Certainly not before our marriage. I protected her—notthat she was at risk. My parents?—”
“Approved of Faustina and were more focused on Gavril at that point, I remember.” Aimilia faced him again. “Fine. You didn’t have to convince her. I’m sure she would have trusted you even if you had. We all make idiots of ourselves in love. That doesn’t change the situation. Whatever goodwill my years of groveling at their feet have gotten me was gone the moment I refused you.”
He could not lose what little progress he’d made.
“My father will die within the year, and I will win my mother over or send her away the second I have the power to do so.” Hetook her hand, brushing his thumb over the ring on her finger. “I will not let you spend a second at risk from them.”
“Nikias—”
“You don’t trust me, I know. I will earn your trust.” He squeezed her hand gently, hoping she could hear the weight of each word. “You don’t think I can succeed now because I failed Gavril countless times before. I do not begrudge you those beliefs. I am just asking for the chance to overcome those objections as well as the others.”
Her voice shattered as the tears in her eyes spilled over. “Nikias, I can’t do this.”
