His eyes watched her closely, and Vaasa squirmed beneath Reid’s gaze. “A courtieranda war general,” he said, repeating what he’d once called her after she finally told him the truth of his claim to the Asteryan throne through their marriage.
“You know now who you married,” she confirmed.
“The most curious being in my existence.” He brushed her hair from her face. His next words came in a guttural growl, a threat and a promise, a flash of violence she recognized from the day he’d cleaned her wounds after she’d baited Kosana. “Tell me it will all be pretending with him. That none of it will be real.”
“Nothing of what you hear or see is real, except when I am alone with you,” she said. “Everything else is a game, one I am going to make them pay for.” Vaasa held his gaze, running her fingers over his cheek again. She took a breath, knowing that if she didn’t say this now, she would regret it for the rest of her life, no matter how long or short that was. “I should have told you that I would stay. Iwantto stay with you. Take away the timeline, forget the three years. I want more.”
Relief flared in his eyes, perhaps indicating how little faith he’d had. “When the time comes, will you run with me? Rule at my side as high consort, not as a figurehead or a chess piece?”
He’d seen the worst of what she had to offer, the poison she could leak when she was afraid or miserable or enraged.That was the version of her that he had fallen in love with—the stubborn one, the violent one, the broken one.
And Reid of Mireh had never turned away.
Vaasa smiled at him, the snake and the wolf both coming alive within her to defend him. His ambitions. His desires. “When the time comes, I will follow you to the ends of the earth.”
“I am in love with you,” he whispered. “I didn’t tell you that enough. I should have told you the moment I realized it.”
“I love you, too.” She rested her forehead against his, taking in the feel of his arms and his body.Alive, her mind repeated.Alive and well.“I am your wife. Everything begins and ends with that.”
He took her in his arms again, a heavy silence coursing between them. Vaasa felt the weight of time as it wound down. She needed to go, or Roman would likely alert someone else to her absence. In truth, he was doing her a favor by not sounding the alarm and shutting down the entire city. Still, if he found her at The Lady Fortune, this entire opportunity would be wasted. If the city began to search, they might discover Reid.
“Convince her not to kill Vlacik,” she said. “Give me a few days to figure this all out.”
Reid grit his teeth. “I’ll try. But…” Everything around them went still. “I’m afraid we may be too late for that.”
“What do you mean?”
“All of the pieces are in place. She could already be seeking him out,” Reid said.
Vaasa froze, but only for a second. Just long enough for the potential outcome of this to hit her.
If anyone had recognized her tonight, they could easily pin this death on her. After their spat at dinner and her dismissing of Vlacik beneath the theater, the nobility had witnessed them at odds.
Regína had seen her here tonight, and Vaasa was not foolish enough to think she was the only person who could purchase the madame’s secrets.
“I have to go,” she whispered. “They’ll frame me, Reid. This city is looking for any reason to tie me to the iron post.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think—”
“Goodbye,” she whispered. Though it felt like ripping out a part of herself, Vaasa forced her legs to move. Forced her body to unpeel from Reid’s and rush toward the door. She picked up the rest of her costume and her mask, securing it with its long white ribbon once more. She put herself back together as if she were donning armor.
“Vaasa,” he demanded.
She turned back, and their eyes locked. He stood there like a statue, every muscle in his body tensed. “No title is worth the loss of you. I will give it all up. Both nations. Lest you misunderstand my priorities.”
Vaasa held his gaze, longing and pain coating each of her nerves. How could she force her body to leave this room? She responded with absolute truth—a rarity in this city, especially coming from her. “I would sacrifice the world to have you.”
With one last look, she slipped out the door, checking the hallway carefully, dangerous hope filling her to the brim.
Reid had found her. He had crossed their continent and infiltrated the capital of Asterya. She was no longer alone.
And she swore she felt it, even just for a moment: white eyes and sharp teeth.
The wolf.
Trembling in her bones, breaking the chains that held it.
CHAPTER
