“You should eat,” came Valerian’s dark voice.
I sighed and looked up, but nobody was there.
And then a hand pressed against my shoulders, I was just about to turn around.
“Don’t.” He hissed like he was in pain. “Not unless you’re ready.”
“Ready?” I winced. “For what?”
“Your wedding night.”
“So, I can’t see your face until I’m completely naked in front of you? Doesn’t seem very fair.” None of this made sense.
“What if I’m horribly scarred?”
“Are you?”
“Yes.”
I sucked in a breath. “I’m so sorry, what happened? And if you don’t want me to see you, you could always put on your mask from last night until you think I’m ready.
“Hmmm, beautiful, and smart.” His voice was laced with humor. “I’ll be right back, eat your vegetables first, and maybe I’ll give you more wine.”
“Ooo, high-handed, and mysterious.”
His laughter had me suddenly relaxing as I turned around to watch his retreating form.
“Knew you’d do that,” he called as he took the stairs one at a time.
He was lethal.
And familiar.
He walked like he was a king.
His pants were black, his shirt matching; he clearly had a thing for black. His hair was blonder than I remembered from last night.
So he was blond.
Why did that disappoint me?
I sighed and started eating a few vegetables. By the time he was back, he was still dressed like a king, but this time the top button of his shirt was undone, and he was wearing his mask.
It should look absolutely ridiculous.
But he was so beautiful it didn’t.
His eyes were a striking green, brighter than Breaker’s in a way that was hard to explain.
Why was I comparing him to Breaker? It was almost unfair. Breaker wasn’t scarred, Valerian was.
Valerian had taken something from me.
Something I chose to give to Breaker.
They couldn’t be more different.
I sighed in frustration as Valerian rounded the table and grabbed my glass of wine, taking a sip from it before setting it back down with a smirk. “Sorry, I was greedy for your taste and figured it was still on the glass.”
“And was it?” I cleared my throat nervously.
“Not enough.” His eyes flashed.
I stared at his mouth; I could almost imagine those lips were someone else’s… almost.
“You’re thinking of him.” He said it like a statement.
“No.”
“Don’t.” He reached out and grabbed my hand. He had a sickle tattoo on his left ring finger like I did, only his was larger, more intricate. I wondered why I didn’t notice it last night. “Don’t lie to me, please.”
“Sorry,” I whispered and lowered my head.
“Another rule.” He tugged me out of my seat and sat then pulled me onto his lap. “This is your kingdom; this is where you rule. You never lower your head to your prince. You are and will always be better than me, understand?”
His fingers trembled as he cupped my chin and then inhaled like he missed my smell when he barely knew me.
“I understand.”
“Did you eat your vegetables?” His grin was killing every wall I erected; it was both playful and confident, and sad. Why was he so sad?
I gave my head a shake. “Yeah, I ate some of them. Did you eat?”
“Are we making small talk?” he teased.
I laughed. “The worst small talk ever. Should we move on to the weather?”
“It’s sunny,” he deadpanned. “And your day, how was that?”
“Lonely,” I answered honestly. “And then it got better. My brother and a few cousins are here for a small vacation.”
“Ah spies, how nice.” He released a soft chuckle.
I rolled my eyes. “They have no need to spy when the Russians are already on our side.”
He stilled. “About that…”
“What?” I narrowed my eyes. “Are you about to tell me bad news?”
“Nikolai and Andrei can only keep them in check for so long, living in Chicago, Violet. I hope you know that, especially with the core of them living here in Seattle.”
“I never thought about that, I guess, because Andrei’s so terrifying.” Had that been the plan all along? Send me here? Pray I fall in love with him? Make me stay?
“I can see the wheels turning,” he said with a tender smile. “Let’s not solve world hunger right now. Let’s just get to know each other. Do you like games?”
“Games? Like board games?”
“No, sexual games where you get tied up and have safe words…” His gentle laugh made my skin tingle. “Yes, board games.”
Why did the other games suddenly sound so much better? “Umm.”
“That is unless you want me to take off this mask and let me kiss you from head to toe? Because that’s my vote. Every second of every day since laying eyes on you.”
I frowned. “Even that day?”
He stilled. “Even that day, Violet. I wanted to save you. But I can’t lie and say I didn’t want you. I wanted you with every cell in my body.”
“Did you know this would happen?”
“No.” He didn’t even hesitate. “Not that it matters, Violet, because it did happen, we saved lives without realizing we were damning our futures.”