“Well, what’s the point in beating around the bush?” Lachlan said. “If she won’t stay here, it’s their only realistic option. I can’t exactly send a military escort or go along in my specter form. And whywouldn’tthey?”
Brayden sighed and pulled Scarlett toward the door.
“Now, don’t get in a tizzy,” said Lachlan. “If you two are North Stars, what does it matter if the marriage paperwork is filed?”
“She’s still getting acquainted with the North Star concept,” muttered Manon.
Brayden glared at Lachlan. “Can you give us a couple of minutes?”
“Of course,” said Manon.
Lachlan coughed, and Scarlett caught the look he shot Brayden.
They stood in the hallway outside Lachlan’s study, and Brayden took her hands in his. “I’m sorry. I wanted that to be better. And I wanted to talk to you alone. I should have dragged you out of that room as soon as you walked through the door. My dad is so thick sometimes.” He let go of her hands and gripped her waist lightly as he stared into her eyes. “I’m sorry I was an idiot this morning. You leaving under these circumstances is my worst nightmare, but I shouldn’t have reacted that way.”
“Thank you for apologizing.” She wanted so badly for things to be well between them that an apology spilled easily off her lips. “I’m sorry too. But what was your dad talking about? You seemed to think a visa marriage was a horrible idea this morning, so what changed?”
They were alone in the quiet hallway as he scanned her face. “I thought about it after you left. In my room earlier, I couldn’t see past my desperation in wanting to keep you here, where it’s safe, and I was pissed you threw out the idea of a visa marriage so flippantly.” He glanced down at his feet as he let out a sigh. “But after you left, I tried to look at the situation logically instead of emotionally, and I realized you were right. I don’t want you to give up on Soleil. You can change the world, and I want to support those dreams and help you set things right. But Ihaveto protect you. A visa wedding solves our short-term problems.If you won’t stay in Clair de Lune, we need to get married so I can go back with you. Let’s get married.” He squeezed her hands tighter in his, running his thumbs over her wrists.
Scarlett frowned. His apology had softened her, but his proposal left much to be desired. “There has to be a third option. Something other than me staying or us getting married.” She loved him, but she didn’t want to get married like this. Whenever she’d pictured her wedding, she’d envisioned a beautiful dress, a huge party, and a groom who was unreservedly head over heels for her and eager to get married, not a hastily signed certificate at a courthouse under duress. She planned on only marrying once, and she didn’t want to throw that away. And she didn’t want that for Brayden either.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Oh, there’s a third option. And a fourth. But I think you’ll like them less. Do not underestimate the lengths I will go to for you. If you try to leave Clair de Lune without me, I’ll cross the Soleil border illegally to follow you. I’ll hire a nocturna to sneak me in, or I’ll ride a fucking dragon shifter over the border.”
Scarlett stared at him, horrified. “You can’t be serious.”
Flames danced in his eyes. He looked wilder than she’d ever seen him. “I’m deadly serious. I’d go further, even. I’d kill to keep you alive. If someone has to die for you to live, I’ll slaughter them to save you.”
His words sent shivers down her spine. They disturbed her but also stirred something deep within. Part of her liked seeing Brayden this worked up over her. But she couldn’t let him know that.
“If you do any of those things, you’ll get yourself arrested, deported, and banned from the country forever. Then we’ll never be able to live together.”
Two officers in uniform appeared in the hallway, and Scarlett and Brayden stood in silence as the men passed by, one of themnodding to Brayden. As soon as they’d disappeared, he went on.
“I’ve given you an option that is legal, and it’s up to you whether or not you want to take it. Believe me, I know this isn’t ideal. Lachlan was all jolly in there about me taking leave, but the truth is, Evory is on the verge of war with Sigur Viður. I should be here with my dad helping him manage the army. Not to mention I feel like I’m trapping the woman of my dreams into marriage.”
They were on opposite sides of this argument, and yet they felt the same: frustrated and somewhat unwanted. Her need for him was indistinguishable from her desire to slap him for being so pushy.
“You shouldn’t leave your dad if he needs you—”
“No, Iwantto. You’re my North Star. We’re not at war yet, and you’re worth it a million times over. I’m only highlighting that I’m offering a compromise I can live with, but it’s a compromise for me too. Take it. Please.” He lifted a hand to her cheek and brushed his knuckles against her skin. “Remember what we talked about last night.Goddess, just think about last night. It was the most amazing night of my life. I love you. So much. Please let me do this for you. Please let me protect you. Even if it’s just for a couple of weeks.”
Her reticence melted away as Brayden expressed feelings as deep as her own. He seemed to genuinely want her to say yes. Marriage was better than him risking his life with an illegal border crossing, and with how riled he was over her safety, she believed he would do something that drastic. He always did what he said he would, and it was usually one of the things she liked best about him. It was strange to see the easygoing Brayden transformed into this nervous wreck. He really was worried about her.
As if he could see her wavering, he continued. “I know it’s fast. We might not know how this is going to work yet, but I knowwe’re meant to be together. Let’s get married. You don’t have to wear a ring if you don’t want to. This can be whatever you want it to be. We can keep it a secret if you think it’s best, given who I am, or not. I don’t mind, but Ineedto go with you.”
Scarlett blinked several times. “I want a ring. If you go to Soleil, we’ll have to explain it, and I don’t want to keep us a secret.” If her father, the most career-minded person she’d known, had married his Clair de Lune wife without regret, she certainly wasn’t going to hide who she loved to keep other people comfortable. The idea was unbearable. She had to believe enough people would be accepting of her choice. Not everyone, certainly, but therehadto be enough decent people in Soleil. And if there weren’t—damn the consequences anyway.
Relief and joy lit his face. “I’ll get you a ring.”
Before she could say anything, his hands were on her, and his lips crashed into hers. He kissed her so hard it verged on painful. But she pressed herself to him, eager for it, letting herself feel what she couldn’t admit out loud. She was selfishly elated he’d be coming to Soleil with her. Even if it was all madness, in her heart she was relieved. She slid her hand into his shirt, and Brayden pushed her against the wall, his hands braced on either side of her.
“Pardon me.” Manon’s head poked out of the door to Lachlan’s office.
They both startled, and Brayden took a couple of steps backward so Scarlett was no longer pinned to the wall. Nori and Jax spun in circles around them as if they were dancing.
Manon chuckled. “Are you two almost finished out here?”
Scarlett’s face blazed with heat. “Almost. Two minutes.”
