I’ve known since the day we were paired, Milo.
Did you know he offered Cora as well?
She was silent in my mind for a moment, long enough for my attention to drift back to Raghnall who was speaking to Nascha about the terms he’d laid out to her before.
She told me when she found out,Isla finally said.
Which was when?I asked.
This morning.
My fists clenched at my sides. I did my best to hide them but couldn’t stop the glare I now aimed toward Raghnall who wasn’t even looking my way as he spoke to my grandmother.
“–arrangements can be made, of course, at your earliest convenience,” he was saying. “I hardly see any reason to wait to be done with the whole thing.”
What do you want?I asked Isla, fearing we were running out of time to have the conversation I’d intended to have with her all along, a question I’d hoped to phrase far better than I did.
When has that ever mattered?She mentally scoffed.
I’m asking, Isla. Don’t waste your opportunity to tell me.
She hesitated once again, this time her gaze drifting up to Luca who still stood silently behind us.
I have no objection to you, Milo,she told me after a moment, her tone much softer than it had been before, almost like it used to be before I’d cut her out and avoided her.I never have.
But do you want this?I pressed.
I’m not opposed. At least, I’m not opposed for any reason other than the idea that I should be against anyone bartering me like recycled goods.
I frowned, returning to the world around us in time to realize Raghnall was now addressing me.
“–if that’s amenable to you?” he said.
I blinked, staring at the patriarch of House Lynx as if he’d grown a second head. I was out of practice with this. I could no longer pay attention to two conversations at once. That was a product both of my cutting Isla out of my life and spending so much time alone with my books.
“I’m sorry?” I asked because I had no choice but to. I wouldn’t blindly agree to anything this man was offering.
“I said we can have you married off to whomever you choose by the end of the week if that’s amenable to you,” Raghnall repeated, clearly annoyed at having to do so. “A small ceremony, as your grandmother has insisted. Though I still think my girls are worth far more pomp–”
“Fine.”
All eyes in the room snapped to me at once. I saw Isla draw a slow breath, the only one who truly knew what had happened here. My grandmother was stunned. Cora looked fearful I might pick her and that expression twisted my heart in a way I thought I would rather not feel again. Luca actually stood up off the wall and Raghnall grinned broader than I’d ever seen before.
“Milo,” my grandmother said slowly.
Are you sure about this?I asked one last time, gave her one last chance.
“Maybe you want to take a moment to talk about this?” my grandmother offered. “We haven’t really had a chance to discuss…”
I’m glad it’s you,Isla said.I know you don’t love me, not like you did her, but still, I’m glad it’s you.
“I have demands,” I announced.
Raghnall’s grin twitched and faded but he bowed his head in acquiescence.
“Of course,” he said.
“I will marry Isla,” I told him and watched as Cora visibly relaxed behind him, “but you must make her your Heir.”
