“No,” she admitted with a long exhale.
“Maybe one of us can sneak into the palace and set her free,” Keith offered. “The king can’t always be in the palace, and Rory can pick locks.”
“No,” Sam boomed. “None of you will go to The Capital, let alone the palace. Gedeon would not hesitate to kill you on the spot, nor would his guards.”
“Ihaveto go to The Capital for work, but you’re right,” Dume agreed. “Sneaking around the palace is suicide.” He glanced at Rory. “Especially for you.”
“I wouldn’t do it. If anyone knows how dangerous Gedeon is, it’s me,” Rory assured the table. “I’ve seen what he did to his mate, and I agree with Sam. None of you should go, either.”
Keith adjusted in his seat, playing with the straw in his glass. “I only want to help.”
Leaning across the table, she squeezed his forearm, loving the sight of his bright blue soul. “I know, and I love you for it, but I won’t risk any of you.”
Until then, she felt guilty for wanting to leave them, but now she felt guilty for staying. The people she loved would put themselves in danger time and again to help her, no matter what she said to stop them.
“I’d die before I let anything happen to you.”
Keith once said those words to her, and she knew he meant it.
42
VINCULA
Caius staredat himself in the mirror and straightened his suit jacket. He smoothed a hand over his perfectly styled hair and pictured Rory in a beautiful dress, walking toward him with a smile meant only for him.
It was time.
Sitting on top of his comforter, he leaned against the headboard and grabbed the sleeping potion he picked up from the pharmacy in town. Chugging it all, he wanted to stay asleep for as long as possible. This was a night he didn’t want to rush.
Wildflowers coveredthe floor of Caius and Rory’s bedroom, and candles scattered around the room to cast an iridescent glow. He didn’t set those up before falling asleep, but the soulscape knew what he needed.
“Isn’t this a fire hazard?” Rory’s teasing voice asked as she stepped through the bathroom door.
He couldn’t respond, too stunned to form coherent thoughts. His mate was gorgeous, and if he never woke from this dream, he would die happy.
Her hair fell in loose waves to her shoulders, her makeup accentuated her grey eyes, and her lips were the color of blood. The long red dress had slits to the top of her thighs, making him bite back a groan. Her look was reminiscent of their first Plenilune ball but in vivid color.
If he wasn’t about to ask her the most important question of their lives, he would rip her dress to shreds right then and there.
She stood before him and ran her hand down the lapels of his jacket. “It’s rude to stare.”
He trailed a finger down the bare skin of her back, teasing the edge of her dress. “And yet, I can’t stop. You look stunning.”
“I’ve never seen you in a full suit before,” she remarked. “Turns out, I love it.”
His voice lowered as he brought his mouth to hers. “Then I shall wear one every day.”
Their lips met, and while he wanted nothing more than to kiss her for hours, he withdrew from her arms. “I don’t want to waste any time,” he said quickly. “I want to do this properly without being rushed.”
She tilted her head slightly. “Do what?”
“This,” he murmured and dropped to his knee.She inhaled sharply with wide eyes as he removed a smokey grey box from his pants pocket and opened it to reveal the Umbra ring.
Itwas an antique, passed down from the early UmbraRoyals, and comprised a large black diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller black diamonds. Caius had thought it was obnoxious until he envisioned it on his mate’s hand.
“I have always been enamored with you,” he murmured. “Even when I wished you would burn in hell for your crimes.”
Her eyes watered as she laughed. “You are terrible at this.”
