Ender’s jaw tightens.
“I am engaged toyou,” he says sharply. “And you will wear my shirt. Whether I force it over your head or you do it yourself, the choice is yours.”
“I’m single,” I say. “My sister is engaged. Why is that so difficult for you to understand?”
“You agreed we would do this my way,” Ender says. His brows draw together, tight with irritation. “You attend every public event. You speak the marriage vows. You become my wife. Not your sister.”
“Exactly,” I say. “Which meansMercydoesn’t get paraded around as your possession, because she is not your wife. So leave her alone.”
I can’t believe I am resorting to using my sister’s name as a shield. It is rather obvious that by Mercy I mean me pretending to be Mercy.
“You created this mess,” Ender says tersely. “You ruined everything.”
“There’s a simple way out,” I say.
His gaze sharpens. “And that is?”
The words climb out of my throat, scraping my flesh like broken glass. I want to swallow them back, but I don’t. This is the answer to our troubles.
I refuse to speak vows that I do not believe in. While I am not opposed to the idea of marriage, I always assumed it would be with someone I love. A person who treasures me and wants to give me the world. Not Ender Vale.
Mercy understands duty and obligation far better than I ever could. This won’t break her as it would me. I can’t marry Ender. He does not fit into my plans.
“Give my sister a chance. Give the marriage a chance,” I say softly. “She’s kind. She’s patient. And she’s the most beautiful person I know, inside and out. If my father finds out the truth about our switch, threaten him. Or tell him you love her. Maybe by then you will. We can start fresh.”
Silence sits heavy between us. I’m too scared to look up at him.
“It’s a good plan,” I continue, staring at the floor tiles. “We can be cordial. We will be family after all. I’ll live as a soldier, and she’ll be your wife.”
The way it was always supposed to be.
I hold my breath, my chest tight, my heart pounding so loudly I’m sure he can hear it. Fear and hope twist together like a pair of clasped hands. I dare to look up at him. His rain-dark hair clings to his forehead, and his pretty pink lips are as ripe as strawberries.
“What will your life be like as a soldier?” he asks.
His words shock me; he is considering it. I don’t dare to smile or let relief wash over me, carrying away all the torment and confusion I feel whenever I am around him.
A small part of me is a little upset that he is willing to accept my proposal, which is ridiculous, because it is my idea after all.
“Like yours,” I say. “Bad rotations until I earn rank. I’ll travel, something I’ve always wanted to do. Maybe I’ll get lucky and be stationed with Gray and we’ll?—”
“Stop.”
The word cracks like a whip. Violence paints his mist-blue eyes, a storm churning just below the surface. But for some reason, standing this close to him, I am not afraid.
“I will take nothing less than what I am owed,” he says, his voice dark and lethal. “I was promised, Haven Warrick. And I will not accept a replacement.”
My throat tightens. “Vale, please, it’s a good pla?—”
“Stop,” he cuts in. “I meant what I said. If you don’t fall in line, I will tell your fathereverything.”
My hands curl into fists at my sides.
“You don’t even like me,” I say, the truth slipping out before I can control it. “You called me weak. You called me dumb. Why would you want to be trapped with me?”
“I never called you dumb.”
“So you admit it,” I say bitterly. “You think I’m weak.”
