“I was quick to judge you initially, yes. But now…”
His eyes find mine with such intensity, like he’s dying to tell me something but his jaw is wired shut.
I know what he wants to say. That being near me makes him feel alive in a way he’s never experienced before. That even thoughwe’re in this bizarre situation, I’m still a source of comfort to him. That time seems to drag in slow-motion whenever we’re separated.
At least that’s how I feel about him now. I could help him out and say these things. But I feel frozen just like him. The reality of the two of us having this much chemistry is some type of cruel joke—two of the most stubborn people falling for one another.
I raise my eyebrows, trying to get him to finish his thought.
“Now… now…” He swears and paces around again. “Do you know what was going through my mind after the video call with your family?”
I shake my head.
“I was terrified that you’d left—that you’d found a way out of the castle and I’d never see you again. Then with how Marco’s wing is set up, I had a horrifying moment picturing you climbing out a window and falling to your death. I couldn’t live with myself if…”
“And how was I supposed to know that? You left me hanging up naked with my wrists in pain.”
“But I didn’tleaveyou. I would never… I figured you knew…” He cuts himself off and rubs his jaw deep in thought.
“No. I didn’t know you were standing right outside the room. In my head, I was picturing you leaving me there all night.”
He winces. “I’m sorry that scared you.”
“I wasn’t scared.” The defensive lie slips out of me naturally. I don’t know why I have so much trouble admitting weakness.
He hides a smile as he rubs his mouth.
That should anger me, but I find myself hiding my own smile.
“Sofia? All I know is our current arrangement isn’t working, and I am emotionally incapable of seeing you in pain. Even these raw wrists are bothering me as we sit here. The only way for this to work is to put you somewhere else, away from me and under someone else’s care.”
My heart sinks. He’s not serious, is he? I can’t hide the disappointment and worry on my face as I chew on my bottom lip. I can sense him analyzing me, and I wish I could remain stoic—like what he’s saying didn’t rip my heart out and crush it on the ground.
“Or… you… I could treat you like…” He sighs, exasperated. “You could simply be my wife.”
I bite my bottom lip to stop my face from glowing. I can’t let him see how much this affects me. My mind races with so many things—he really does have feelings for me. I won’t have to be locked away so much. He’s making it clear that I don’t have to be afraid of him. Maybe the conflict between his family and mine will smooth over.
He clears his throat. “It’s your choice, Sofia.”
“I’ll do it.” I look up as he raises his eyebrows.
“Which option?” His voice is barely a whisper.
“I’ll be your wife.”
“Okay.” He looks around the room as if the room is going to collapse around us.
And I know why. Everything has shifted with us, and all I can ask is… “Now what?”
He lets out a nervous laugh, but there’s a boyish giddiness to it. “I don’t know.” He stands up, extending his hand out to me. I take it and let him help me to my feet, my legs still wobbly. He gently pushes me back against the wall, caging me there as he brushes my hair out of my face.
I reach towards the back of his head, pulling him down to me so that his lips find mine. And the feeling when he kissed me earlier was nothing compared to how it feels now. I collapse into his arms and let him support me as my heart pounds in my chest, feeling light-headed from excitement as his tongue explores my mouth. He pulls away and then brings me to his chest, enveloping me in a hug.
“Do you have to work more today?”
His thumb rubs up and down my back. “I should, but I won’t.”
I give him a warm smile, which he returns. We gather up my things so that I can cover myself up enough to walk up to our room.
