Gods.
Shoving those thoughts aside, she angled her head. “So… you aren’t going to kill me? And neither is the king?”
She couldn’t keep the disbelief from her voice. When the guards had thrown her in this prison, she was sure this was the end.
The prince nodded. “No one is going to kill you.”
Well, that was news to her.
“Even if I don’t come with you?” To be honest, Vivienne wasn’t entirely sure she could manage going on another one of the prince’s adventures. Not in her current state.
“Yes.”
She stared at him, studying his gaze. There was no sign that he was lying.
As if he knew where her mind had gone, he added, “No matter what you decide, Sebastian has agreed to free you. I explained everything, from how I encouraged you to come with me?—”
“Forced me,” she interrupted. “I had no choice.”
He sighed, his eyes filling with something that looked remarkably similar to regret. “That’s true. I didn’t give you a choice then, and I’m sorry about that. But I’m giving you a choice now.”
Reaching out, he took her grimy hand. There was something comforting about his touch, which was entirely at odds with everything she should have been feeling. Obviously, the lack of blood was getting to her.
Vivienne tried to remember all the reasons why she should pull away from him, but she couldn’t remember a single one.
“I’m going to need you to spell things out for me, please.” With her current mental state, she needed to make sure she was hearing things correctly.
“Of course.” Marius squeezed her fingers, and his lips worked upinto the ghost of a smile. “I’m asking if you’d like to come with me, Viv. The circumstances are different this time. The royals know of and have agreed to this plan.” He paused and added, “I would really enjoy your company.”
Gods damn it.
The answer should’ve been easy. She should’ve just refused his ridiculous offer the moment he opened his mouth. Of course, she wouldn’t join him on this expedition. The first one had nearly gotten her killed, and it had resulted in two imprisonments. It would be foolish to agree to accompany him, wouldn’t it?
Vivienne had long considered herself an intelligent woman, but as she sat in that prison cell and considered the prince’s offer, she realized that she might’ve been a fool.
Actually, that was incorrect.
Shewasa fool twice over.
First, for not stopping Marius during his initial escape. Second, and perhaps more importantly, for her actions right now.
Her mouth opened, and before she could stop herself, she whispered, “Yes.”
The moment the word left her lips, her eyes widened. The prince’s brown gaze mimicked hers.
“Yes?” he said, almost incredulously. “You’ll come?”
Well, she was in it now.
Drawing in a deep breath and digging the fingers of her free hand into the frozen stones beneath her, Vivienne repeated more loudly, “Yes. I’ll come with you.”
Perhaps she truly did have a death wish. That was the only thing that made sense because even though she was surprised by her agreement, she didn’t regret it.
Maybe it was the memory of the prince’s joy as he rode Azil acrossthose snow-covered roads, or maybe it was just the way he was holding her hand, but either way, she felt sure about her decision.
And he’d let her make a choice.
That, more than anything else, meant something. The fact that he wasn’t forcing her along this time made it so much easier for her to agree.
