Gytha is still trying to find a connection between Uther and the Butyrskayas, and Leif said he didn’t know of one. Of course, he found the idea of Anastasia recognizing the crest as odd as I did.
It’s definitely a worry I’d like to get answers for. Just not enough to distract me right now from wanting Anastasia. Given our last few wild encounters, I’m leaning toward believing she’s just as worked up as me. But I can’t push aside the fact that I know she’s conflicted over Viktor.
I’m supposed to understand because everything is still fresh for her, but like a teenage brat I don’t want to, whether I believe that she loves him or not.
Maybe it’s because I’m leaning more towardsnot.
When a woman loves a man, she wouldn’t be easily tempted by another. She’d fight tooth and nail for that love and nothing would be able to sway her.
She wouldn’t look at another man the way she looks at me and there would be no desire.
I’d have to be a sick motherfucker seeking my own pleasure, forcing her into something she doesn’t want.
But maybe I am.
I can’t be sure of anything, and I’m too fucked up to stop what she started.
My annoyance makes me dig my fingers into the hard wood of the window frame.
“Hey, boss.”
I turn at the sound of Jayce’s voice. “Hey.”
“I got it.” He walks up to me, pulls out a blue velvet box from his pocket and pops it open.
Inside sits a ring with a tiny princess-cut diamond nestled in the center of a platinum band.
I picked it from a brochure the other week and got Jayce to use Viktor’s engagement ring as a size guide.
Seeing it in real life hits home that I’m about to give a woman my name and make her my wife.
My wife.
What will being married to my enemy’s daughter be like? I can only imagine.
“Is it alright?” Jayce gives me a tentative stare. “The jeweler said you can contact him if something’s wrong.”
“It’s fine.” I take the box and close it.
“Getting cold feet?” He smirks, casting a glance through the window at Anastasia. “Or maybe from the look of you, it’s something else.”
I chuckle, then sigh. “There’s no harm in enjoying my work.”
His smile widens. “Definitely not. And she’s a nice piece.”
I slip the ring box in my pocket. “Tell my wife-to-be to meet me in my office.”
Thinking of how my little Valkyrie will react when she gets my message makes me grin.
“Sure thing. After that, I’m hitting the streets with the team.”
“Okay, report back tomorrow unless anything changes.”
He dips his head and leaves.
I make my way to the office down what I call the haunted passage. As far as I know, no one died in this house but I’ve always felt that the Butyrskayas’ presence remained here because this was a real home to them.
Once I’m inside my office, I sit in my chair and wait.