She lowered her voice. “All joking aside, you know I’m right. We can’t stay here forever and I’m no princess in the tower, four dragon slayers at my side or not. Dimitris needs to be stopped.”
From the way he considered her with his gaze for the first time, the wall to his emotions crumbled a fraction to reveal what he truly thought. He understood and if she read him right, he also agreed.
She’d always faced her fears and troubles head-on. Sometimes she ran into walls and sometimes, like now, she found the most unexpected outcome. Sevastyan at her side. A few weeks ago she wanted him in prison and now she depended on him in ways she never dreamed possible. If she were honest, admitting that to herself came with a healthy dose of uncertainty. Blood oath or not.
“I like the way you look at me when you get deep in thought. What I would give to hear what runs through that beautiful mind of yours.” He pushed aside a curtain of curls from her face and she smiled, slow and easy despite the new thought his words provoked.
She didn’t think so. At times her thoughts scared even her. What would they do to someone like him? A man that lived with no strings attached. Hell, the entire apartment lacked a drop of warmth. No pictures of family, no connection. No life.
She cupped his face and brought her lips to his. She infused every last drop of love in her body for the man determined to keep her safe into that kiss.
She wanted to give that back to him. She stood. “Where are you going?”
“To find a dress. Neither of us is walking into the fire alone tonight. We will all seek our vengeance and then find our peace.”
He grabbed her hand, lacing their fingers together. “Don’t let your pure heart be the path that leads you to your tomb. You’ve entered a world that wants to see you dead. I will protect you with my life since you are hell-bent on doing this, but do you understand this might cost us all our lives?”
“I do. Tell me you aren’t going in there tonight looking for revenge for your brother’s death.”
“I am.”
“So am I. Your pain is mine.”
He pulled her into his arms, and she rested her cheek over his heart and drew strength from the steady, rhythmic beat.
Death could not touch them. Not when they were so close to finding happiness.