My fingers slide from her shoulder to her chin, tilting it just enough for her breath to hitch. “Until now.”
Alina’s eyes briefly flicker to my lips, and all I want to do in that moment is kiss her and whisper insane promises against her lips.
But she lowers her eyes and looks away, making my hand slip from her chin.
Maybe that’s for the best. How can she be safe in my world? It would be cruel of me to try and keep her here.
“Tomorrow,” I say, “you’ll stay here with Viktor and a few other men while I go to the meetup with Archer.”
“No,” she says with a scowl.
“Yes,” I answer.
Shaking her head, she says, “If Archer brings the money?—”
“He won’t bring all of it. We both know that,dikaya koshka,” I say. “He’ll bring what he can, and a story to cover the rest.”
“And then what happens? What will you do?” Her voice is even. Brave. I’ve met seasoned soldiers with less courage.
“Then I’ll do what I have to,” I say, because that has always been the right answer and the wrong one. “But not in front of you.”
It’s not a promise. It is honest, though, and Alina can hear the difference. I can tell by the way her shoulders ease a fraction.
“Time for bed,” I say before she can try to convince me to let the traitor live and I have to disappoint her. At the wave of my hand, she comes without hesitation. I walk her to the guestroom door, certain that there’s not a damn thing she can say to make me change my mind about Archer.
But when I turn around to say goodnight, it’s not her words that she plans to use against me.
She grabs a fistful of my shirt, rises onto her toes, and kisses me—soft, sweet, soaked in wine and pure manipulation.
Fuck, she’s not fighting fair.
Her teeth nip at my bottom lip as she starts to pull away. I grasp her waist to stop her, but it’s too late. That’s all she plans to give me tonight. Just a taste, knowing it will leave me with a craving for more.
“Convince Gavriil to let Archer go free tomorrow, and I’ll stay with you tomorrow night,” she offers, her words soft, breathy like they would be if she were in my bed and underneath me. “If anyone can change his mind, it’s you, right?”
The offer tastes like surrender, but it’s mine. For once in my life, I’m the one naming the price instead of being sold.
One night for a traitor’s life? I’ve already decided Archer walks away if he plays his part. The only thing I’m really trading for her is the right to be the one who saves them both.
I’m an asshole for not telling her that I’ve already made an agreement with Gavriil to let Archer live in return for the money and guns.
Instead of giving her that truth, I make her a counteroffer instead. One decent thing my father taught me was that you don’t get answers to questions you never ask.
“I want you in my bed for two weeks.”
“One week.”
Exactly what I wanted. She thinks she won ground, and I let her believe it.
“One week,” I agree.
“And I get to come with you tomorrow,” Alina adds.
Fuck. Of course, she would insist on being there to ensure I keep my word.
“Your brother needs a lesson he won’t forget. Gavriil will insist on that much,” I warn her. While her presence could be used as motivation for Archer to do the right thing if nothing else, if I had my choice, I’d rather keep her away, safe.
She nods and swallows. “I understand that. As long as it’s not a fatal lesson. Do you think your brother can be convinced?”
