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I flipped her onto her back and drove into her harder, faster, chasing the release that would seal the bargain and make me something other than the man who’d promised Zinnia a future. Evangeline’s nails raked down my back, and she laughed—a low, cruel sound that told me she’d already won.

“That’s it,” she said. “Give the theater what it wants.”

I came inside her with a force that felt like falling, and the room exploded with light.

The door opened.

Zinnia stood in the doorway, her face white, her hands shaking.

She looked at me.

She looked at Evangeline beneath me.

She looked at the ring on her own finger.

And she understood.

I pulled out of Evangeline and stood, reaching for my trousers, but it was too late. Zinnia’s gaze moved from my face to the bed, then to the candles still burning too brightly around the room.

“You’re sealing the bargain,” she said. Her voice was flat and empty.

“Zinnia—”

“You gave me a ring two hours ago and told me we were leaving tomorrow.” She stepped into the room. “You looked me in the eye and said you were choosing me.”

“I didn’t know she was going to⁠—”

“You knew.” She held up her hand, the silver ring catching the light. “You knew exactly what this was. You knew what she wanted. And you gave it to her anyway.”

“I thought I could⁠—”

“You thought you could have both.” She pulled the ring off and threw it at me. It hit my chest and fell to the floor. “You thought you could fuck her and keep me and walk away with everything you wanted.”

Evangeline sat up on the bed, her dress still open, a satisfied look on her face. “The theater has what it needs,” she said to Zinnia. “You witnessed the bargain. Your bloodline is bound. You’re free to go.”

“Free?” Zinnia laughed. It was a broken, vicious sound. “You think I’m free?”

“You can leave anytime you want.” Evangeline smiled. “But you’ll come back. Everyone comes back eventually.”

Zinnia looked at me one last time. “I loved the man I thought you were. But he’s dead. You killed him the moment you walked into this room.”

Then she turned and ran.

I chased after her, barefoot and naked, my chest still heaving. The hallway was dark and narrow, and I could hear her fast, uneven footsteps ahead of me.

“Zinnia, wait⁠—”

“Stay away from me!”

She reached the back door and shoved it open. A single lantern lit the stable yard, and I saw her run toward the horses, her hands already reaching for a saddle.

I caught up to her as she was tightening the girth. “Please. Let me explain.”

“Explain what?” She didn’t look at me. “That you’re a liar? That you’re a coward? That you sold me to your new partner for a chance at power?”

“I didn’t sell you⁠—”

“You gave me a ring and told me you loved me, and then you fucked her while the theater watched.” She swung up onto the horse. “That’s not a mistake, Malachi. That’s a choice.”