And I know that the next morning, she was gone before I woke up, and she's looked straight through me at every function since, like that night never happened.
It happened.
"I know enough," I tell Liam.
He searches my face for a long moment, then shakes his head with something that's halfway between a laugh and a sigh. "How long have you been sitting on this?"
"A while." He doesn’t need to know the details. Doesn’t need to know how there’s been no one since her. How no one else could ever measure up.
"And you're sure?" Killian jumps in with this. “I honestly thought you were going to kick off…”
"I was sure before the council made their announcement. This just gives me a legitimate reason to stop waiting."
Liam picks up his drink again. Takes a slow sip. Sets it down. "She's going to fight it. You know that. Not publicly…she's too smart for that. But she'll find ways to make you feel like you're holding an icicle instead of a wife."
"Fine." Another shrug. I know what to expect with Tanya.
"Fine?" Liam asks. I can tell his is stuck between relief that I’m not fighting the mandate, and surprise.
"I've held her when she wasn't ice, Liam. I know what's underneath it. It’s all I’ve been able to think about since that night."
That stops him. I watch the understanding land; the moment he connects the pieces and realizes this isn't theoretical. This isn't a man with a preference. This is a man who's already had her and spent two years thinking about nothing else.
"When?" he asks quietly.
"Prague."
"Two years ago, Prague? The Dubovich summit?"
I nod once.
He blows out a breath. "And she just…what? Pretended it didn't happen?"
"She pretended it didn't matter. There's a difference."
"Is there?"
"Yes." I weigh up how much I should tell him, then decide he might as well know it all. "She went to that bar on purpose. She chose me on purpose. And she left before morning on purpose. Tanya doesn't do anything without a reason."
"So, what was the reason?" Killian asks.
I set the glass down. "She was trying to make herself worthless."
Liam frowns. "What?"
"Eldest virgin daughter of Alber Savitsky. Prime commodity in an arranged match. She knew the council would come calling eventually, and she decided to remove herself from the board."
Understanding dawns across his face. "She slept with you to — "
"To ruin herself. To make sure no traditional family would want her."
"Jesus,” Killian whistles.
I smirk. "Except she didn't count on one thing."
"Which is?"
I look at my brother and let him see exactly what lives behind the quiet.
