My fingers clutched the knitted blanket underneath me. “Even if I could—the House of Bloodstone would know it was me. They would haveme killed!”
“No, they will not,” Derrick said calmly. “I certainly will not send our guard out to investigate his death, and, frankly, that beast has made enough enemies that no one would suspect you. You would be surprised how many people want the legendaryhalf-giant dead.”
My heart thudded against my ribs. “He is not a half-giant—just a child of magic. He only has magic in his blood, he is nota monster—”
“Makes no difference.” Derrick’s brow hardened. “How many times has he hurt you just today? On the very first day ofyour marriage?”
He was right—between the fall in the city square and being dropped on the middle of the dance floor, I was lucky I was not seriously injured. My mouth suddenlywent dry.
“He did not mean to,” I answered meekly. “They were justaccidents, Derrick.”
“That did not stop it from happening, did it?” Derrick said with a harshness I never expected coming from his lips. “How many more of these ‘accidents’ is he going to have? Or, more importantly, what is going to happen when hegetsimpatient?”
The last word hissed out of his mouth like it burnedhis tongue.
“Bloodstone is the last of his family line and he is desperate for an heir.” His voice was dark as smoke. “If he forces himself on you, he will not just hurt you, he willbreakyou.”
Gold coins clinked when men wagered how hard my body would shatter. Women saw Riyan as a man worth dying under. Riyan had already broken his mother, was I next? A hard lump formed in my throat as I looked down at themassive mattress.
If I got into bed with Riyan, would I ever getup again?
My hands trembled. Derrick gently wrapped his warm hands around mine and held them as I went still. “I hate scaring you, but I heard so many stories about what…what he can do. You have no idea howmuch danger—”
“I know,” I whispered. I looked back up at Derrick’s colorless and serious face. “Butpleasedo not force me tokill him.”
“I will not force you to do anything,” he replied in a softer voice. “I just want you to understand that you do not have to suffer a horrible fate athis hands.”
A cold, shaking breath escaped my lips. I squeezed my eyes shut and counted to ten. In the darkness, I took shelter in Derrick’s promise—I wouldnot suffer.
As I repeated his words in my head, Derrick slowly unfolded my right hand and turned it so my palm faced up. He placed the hilt of the dagger in my hand and guided my fingers to wrap around it. My eyes popped open as the cold bronze hilt stung mysweating palm.
“Just promise me you will keep it with you.” The plea was cloud-soft as I gripped the dagger. “When you realize you are in danger, just sneak up on him when heis asleep…”
Derrick drew a line across his throat with his thumb. “One cut right here. That is allit takes.”
My lower lip and shoulders trembled as my heart raced. “I am not akiller, Derrick.”
Derrick placed his hands on my shoulders and held me steady. His jaw ticked but then he let out a slow breath and shook his head. “No, you are not. I cannot ask that of you. All I ask is that if you have to choose between your life and his, you will choose yourself. Promise me you willchoose yourself.”
I slowly flipped the dagger and held it inward so the blade rested against my forearm. I carefully folded my arm down and laid the dagger in my lap, hidden underneath myright arm.
Guilt consumed me like an inferno as I accepted the dagger, but what choice did I have? Derrick was right, I was in danger. Riyan was not a half-giant, but that did not mean he would not hurt me, accidentallyor not.
The reality of it all was colder than ice-kissed steel yet plain as day—I would not survive if Riyanbroke me.
Iron hands shoved my guilt into a shadowed abyss. Instead of tripping over emotions, I had to look at my situation logically. Before Derrick entered the conservatory, I had two options—consummate my marriage with Riyan before the next full moon or sit at the feet of Duke Hyton in the shade of his cruelty for the rest of my life. Each option all but promised suffering, injury, or even death. Derrick’s promise of a new marriage and the title of Governess of Ravenwood was a beacon of light in the dark forest ofmy circumstances.
Besides, I did nothave tokill Riyan. The blade beneath my arm was not a weapon thirsting for blood, but a mere lifeline.Nothing wicked.
Just a promise from a man who loved me that I wouldnot suffer.
I took a deep breath and set my jaw with a silent vow—no more weakness, no more confessing feelings under starlight, and no more leaving myself open and vulnerable. I had tostay strong.
Even in the strength of my vow, the dancing red ember remained. The warmth from Derrick’s hand still holding mine fanned the tiny fire in my heart. I flicked my eyes up to Derrick’sserious face.
“You really would do all of that for me?” I asked. “A second Selection Night, bribing Brietta’s brother, and makingme Governess?”
Derrick took my face in his hands. “Of course I would.” His thumbs stroked my cheeks as he leaned in to make his own vow. “I will do everything in my power to protect you.I promise.”
