He couldn’t fucking bear it. He would do anything, agree toanything, to ensure Arran would not snuff out Xenia’s light. The world deserved it.
Even if he didn’t anymore.
“If I agree to proceed with this marriage, I want you to swear you will not harm her,” he whispered, broken.
Arran ran his thumb along his jaw. “How will I ensure you won’t flee your wife after the ceremony and run off to rescue your pet?”
“And how willIensure you won’t kill Xenia after I’m married?”
“We’ll make a blood vow,” Arran said, opening a drawer and pulling out a dagger. “Breakable only by death. I will promise to send your human back to the colonies, and you will promise to marry Elodie and never see the woman again.”
Cael held his hand out over the desk, palm up. “Do it then.”
He didn’t so much as flinch as Arran dragged the blade across his palm. A line of red bloomed, and Arran did the same to his own before clasping Cael’s hand.
“I promise to send the human?—”
“Say her fucking name. Xenia Cirillo.” His voice faltered as her name crossed his lips. His Xenia. His Blondie.
Fuck, she may hate him for this forever, but at least she’d bealive.
Arran rolled his eyes. “I promise to send Xenia Cirillo safely back to the human colonies. She shall not come to any harm by my hand nor my command after Cael Zephyrus says his wedding vows to Elodie Laskaris.”
Cael squeezed his father’s hand. “And I promise to say my wedding vows to Elodie Laskaris and afterward to never interact with the human Xenia Cirillo ever again.”
A tingle swept up Cael’s forearm as the blood bargain sealed, and something within him settled.
Xenia would be safe from his father.
Forever.
And the only thing Cael had to do to ensure it was to give away his life.
“The wedding will take place tomorrow,” Arran said.
Cael blanched. “It’s not scheduled until next week.”
Arran glared from beneath furrowed brows. “Thanks to your littlevacation, it’s being expedited. Fortunately, the Laskarises have no idea why you disappeared. I told them I’d sent you on a business trip, then informed Elodie you missed her so terribly that you wanted to get married the moment you returned.”
Cael stood. “Fine. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner Xenia will be safe.”
Arran smiled. “I’m so glad you see it that way. And mind the words of our bargain, boy. If you try to leave before tomorrow to seek help or escape, Iwillbe able to harm her. I am not bound until you say your vows. Remember that.”
Cael squared his shoulders, choked down the urge to wail and scream and thrash, and walked to the office door.
“Enjoy your last night as an unmarried male, Cael,” Arran crooned from his desk.
“Your bride will be waiting at the altar tomorrow.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE
Arran Zephyrus’s tiny, hidden room within the Stoneridge library was far more claustrophobic than Xenia remembered. And she couldn’t help feeling an odd kinship with the trinkets, relics, and dusty books lining the shelves. Like her, they were locked away, forgotten, discarded.
Fortunately, she still had the flute. When Arran had deposited her in here this morning, he hadn’t searched her person. Had merely shut her inside and left her some food—a loaf of bread, a few worm-eaten apples, and a wedge of moldy cheese.
She had no idea what he intended to do with her after Cael’s wedding, which Arran had informed her was to take place tomorrow.
Xenia had nearly cackled in Arran’s face. What would Elodie do if she knew how thoroughly Xenia had claimed her fiancé up in Leonard’s mountain cottage?
