“Well, you’re going to have to teach me, because I am no gentleman. I’m the biggest brutethere is.”
I pried my eyes away from his dimple and stared at the back of my hand. “As long as you do not get drunk and throw me on the ground again, you are off to agood start.”
Riyan closed his eyes and groaned. “I feel horrible for that. I ruined your big moment in front of everyone. You weren’t hurt,were you?”
“No, but the Duke’s ballroom floorsure was.”
He stroked the back of my hand with his thumb. “Eh, I don’t feel badabout that.”
I wanted to laugh, but I was too afraid of the heat glowing in my body to let myself. Instead, I gently bit my tongue and smiled. “What am I going to dowith you?”
Riyan looked at me with a fire in his eyes that matched the ball of light in my chest. “Anything youwant, Serafina.”
I let out a little breath and the powerful heat pacified into a comforting warmth. He was letting mehave control.
All right. I was not foolish enough to raze my defenses, but I would meet Riyan on the battleground to fight for our survival. If he would try to be a gentleman for me, I could at least try to be honestfor him.
Against all logic and sense, I would give Riyan Bloodstonea chance.
Damn, I needed to eat.
I tugged the laces of my waist cincher tightly against my empty stomach as I finished dressing for a new day. I placed my foot on my chair, lifted up my skirt, and tightened my garter strings around mythin legs.
My leg felt so much lighter without the Hyton dagger weighingme down.
I had promised Derrick I would keep the dagger with me, but the tiny light still shining inside my chest whispered to me to break that promise. The thought of Riyan’s gentle touch and his dimpled half-smile made me throw my skirt back over my leg with a decisive flick ofmy wrist.
If Riyan was going to attempt to be a gentleman, I was not going to attempt to bean assassin.
I braided a strand of hair around the crown of my head to keep my hair out of my face. I grabbed my hand mirror to make sure the braid was even when I caught the reflection of my neck—the marks from Derrick were indeed almost gone. I gently touched the skin of my neck, remembering his lips, his breath, the way he had made me burn inside…butI stopped.
I took a deep breath and let it go. I had to stop thinking about Derrick and whathewanted for me and discover what I really wantedfor myself.
Nikkolas and Hilda were my new family, was I ready to consider Riyan my family also? Did I want to don a crimson cloak and fully submit tomy fate?
Or did I want something that no one in the House of Bloodstone couldgive me?
Whatever I truly wanted, I had to let out the prisoner inside my granite heart. I had to find out who Ireally was.
I followed the sweet smell of breakfast to the dining room. To my delight, I found a spread of bread and butter, cured meats, and chicken eggs waiting on the table. Nikkolas and Hilda were already eating, but Riyan was nowhere tobe found.
“Oh, good morning, Serafina!” Hilda said in a chipper voice as I joined them at the table. “Eat up, dear. You have a big day aheadof you!”
“I am looking forward to it,” I said as I spread some butter on a thick and warm slice of bread. “When is Astrid going tosee Riyan?”
Nikkolas scoffed, but Hilda paid himno mind.
“Astrid was still tired from yesterday and she was…well, in a bad mood this morning,” Hilda said, still not losing the happy lift inher voice.
“She does not remember her own name, but she sure remembers what today is,”Nikkolas grumbled.
Hilda pursed her lips and glared at her husband for only a moment before she was back to her chipper self. “Anyway, everything must be perfect for the reunion to go smoothly, so we will try tomorrow. But! Riyan rose early this morning and made special plans for aspecialday!”
“Is he going somewhere?” I asked between mouthfulsof bread.
Hilda shot a quick glance at Nikkolas, who did not look up from his plate. Hilda looked back at me with a giddy smile, hiding a secret behind herrosy cheeks.
“You will see,” she said with a tiny giggle. “Just make sure you get your fillof food.”
