“Marinov.” Jace gives a short nod.
“Mm-hmm,” is all my dear husband says before Jace’s focus shifts to me.
The truth is, Kirill never meant to invite them. That was my idea. He wasn’t exactly thrilled about it either, though he agreed in the end because he wanted me to have whatever I wanted on our wedding day.
Even so, watching the look that passes between him and Jace, I can’t help wondering again what exactly happened between their families to make the tension this bad.
“Sloane.” Jace nods at me. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you.”
“Thanks for having us.” Thora steps in and gives me a hug, her sweetness obvious the second you meet her.
Greer nods, tossing her curls over her shoulder. “Yes, what she said.” Her mouth curves into a smirk before she adds, “Our parents sent a gift. They’re sorry they couldn’t make it. Urgent business back home.”
“It’s alright.” Kirill takes my hand. “If you’ll excuse me, I need a dance with my wife now.”
He doesn’t wait for a response before whisking me away just as a slow song begins to play.
“Did you really want a dance?” I arch a brow. “Or were you just trying to get away?”
“Why can’t it be both?” A half-smile tips up. He gazes at me, his knuckles feathering along the slope of my cheek. “You captivate me, Mrs. Marinova. I’ve never been a man who’s easily captivated.”
“You flatter me, husband.”
He takes my wrist and kisses my pulse point as we sway together. “And I will continue to flatter you and love you until my very last breath. You complete me like no one ever has.”
Emotion catches in my throat. “Stop it. You’re not supposed to make me cry.”
He laughs just as Thora passes by. As she says something to her sister, I notice Anton sitting at a nearby table, watching her a little too closely.
“I think your brother likes Thora.”
Kirill chuckles. “I wouldn’t call it that.”
My eyes narrow. “What would you call it, then?”
“Definitely not love.”
“You never know.”
“You’re right, but my brother is different. You’ll learn that soon enough.”
I keep observing Anton, trying to make sense of what Kirill said. But after everything that happened with us, I can’t help wondering if something like that could happen for them too.
Thora turns slightly, and their eyes meet. She smiles, tucking her hair behind her ear. Anton catches the movement, stares for a bit too long, and then looks away like he wasn’t supposed to be caught doing that.
Kirill notices it too.
“I don’t care what you say,” I tell him. “There is potential there.”
“Leave it to my wife to find love where there is none.”
I pop my chin and shrug. “Let’s leave that up to fate, shall we?”
“Whatever you say, malyshka.”
He spins me across the dance floor, and I giggle, lighter than I’ve been in a long time.
