The words felt like a stab in the heart. We were still going to separate after all this. 'Til death do us part was never going to be an option.
“But when I saw you on the road, when I thought I might lose you… I did what I had to,” Gray said.
“It was a wasted effort if Hunter and the others are planning to kill me. Am I that much of a problem, Gray?”
“We’ve had issues before,” he said, words clipped. “Some things are harder to forgive than others. But I won’t let it happen, Quen. We can win this.”
“How?” I asked. I swallowed the nervous laughter that threatened to spill from me. “I want to go home. My brother and lab are what I want. Am I ever going to be allowed that?”
He sucked in a deep breath, rinsing my hair and slathering conditioner along the length.
“Quentin,” Gray muttered. “What I’m about to tell you goes no further than these walls. Do you understand?”
The anxiety flourished in the pit of my stomach, and I gave a small, uncertain nod of my head.
“I have spent centuries trying to take Hunter’s position. It’s partially the reason for my reluctance with the project. If he makes a success of it, then it makes it more difficult for me to usurp him.”
My heart beat so wildly in my chest that I could hear it thumping in my ears. A steady, thunderous noise that made my words sound distant. “I thought you didn’t want the throne.”
“We never discussed my intentions,” Gray corrected me. “Just that Hunter was losing favour and would prefer an heir. You’re the first to remind me of my ego. Do you really think I’d pass up on the opportunity to have everyone dance to my tune?”
“But you aren’t in charge. Hunter calls the shots, Gray. How is you wanting to take over going to make a difference?” I asked, failing to see his logic.
“We need to prove that there’s value in keeping you alive. That you aren’t a threat.”
It appeared we were on the same wavelength about proving my worth.
“And then?” I pressed.
“Your allegiance is with me. Correct?”
I stiffened as the pieces snapped into place. “You want me to play a game to help you get what you want?”
A large hand wrapped around my throat from behind, lacking pressure but guiding my head back. Gray’s lips brushed against my temple.
“What I want,” he whispered, “is for you to survive this. It just so happens we’re able to kill two birds with one stone.”
“No,” I argued. “You could still win that coveted seat if they kill me.”
Fingers pressed against the sides of my throat and I tried to ignore the gentle throb that occurred between my legs.
“If all I wanted was the seat,” Gray said, “I could have let you die when that car hit you. You have been an unnecessary complication from the moment you stepped into my life. I am selfish. I am vile. I am all those things you believe me to be and worse. But you are my priority now. Before anything else, you and your survival matter the most to me. I need you to trust me.”
Trust was something that I gave so sparingly. No one deserved it and I wasn’t entirely sure that Gray was worth it, but I knew my soul had trusted him from the moment I woke up in the pool. It believed that he had my best interests at heart.
Plus, Elysia had layers of politics and customs that were a minefield to navigate, and if my goal was to survive and return to Earth, I needed someone to watch my steps. Gray wasn’t keeping secrets the way Archer was. He’d been honest about his plans.
My hand ran along his forearm, fingers finding the space between his. Gray released his grip on my throat, and I held his hand, bringing his wrist to my lips.
“We have one shot at this,” I mumbled against his skin. “If anything goes wrong—"
“It won’t.” He said it with such conviction it was difficult not to believe him. His warm breath fanned across my ear, causing goosebumps to appear. “I’ll tear Elysia in half if it means I get to keep you.”
I wanted to take those words with a pinch of salt. Everything needed to be approached with caution, but the small sliver of me that contained a crumb of hope released a fresh flood of adrenaline at the base of my stomach, unfurling it with alarming urgency. Even if he didn’t mean it, I took some comfort in the gesture.
“Did Archer treat you well?” Gray asked, tension seeping into the words.
“Mostly,” I replied, squeezing his hand. “He was determined to find out my gift.”
