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Demos’s eyes met mine, and he stepped closer.

“Dance with me.”

I wanted to make some pithy remark about how he’d suddenly remembered I existed. But he was finally looking at me, and the way he was looking at me prevented me from being able to say anything at all.

The musicians switched to a slower song, and Demos pulled me close. My heart ached. When I pictured my future—if we all got to have one—it was this man who I could see by my side.

But…something in him had broken. And I didn’t know if it could be repaired. Because I was relatively sure he didn’t want it to be repaired.

His nostrils flared. And then he gave me one of those looks. The look that left me trembling at night. Yearning for him.

Not that I’d ever let the stubborn bastard know that.

“Why did you volunteer to come with me, Asinia?”

I tucked away the anguish that he would even ask that question after the kiss we’d shared. Perhaps what I’d thought was a life-changing kiss had meant nothing to a man as handsome as Demos. He’d likely had women tripping over themselves to kiss him before he was imprisoned. I was merely the one who’d been with him since Regner’s dungeon.

And so, I didn’t answer his question. Because I wasn’t sure my heart could take the vulnerability of it. “Why did you allow me to come with you?”

His lips tightened. “Because I want you where I can see you. Alive.”

“I want everyone in this ballroom to stay alive, Demos. If that’s truly the depth of your feelings for me, then that’s all I need to know.”

I attempted to shove my way out of his arms. His grip on me tightened. But then he let me go.

I turned and walked away.

16

Prisca

“I’m sorry,” Lorian murmured as Kaelin Stillcrest walked away. “I wanted this night to be perfect for you.”

And that ugly scene had been far from perfect.

But it was reality. We were at war. Besides…

“Vicer is alive, Lorian. That’s all that matters.”

He took my hand, and then he was tugging me toward the side of the tent, where cooler air danced toward us. Several people nearby whistled, and Lorian smirked, sweeping me out of the tent and into his arms.

Someone had arranged for a carriage to meet us directly outside the tent. The driver bowed his head in greeting, and I stepped inside as Lorian helped me with my gown.

He followed me, his huge body taking up most of the space, and I nestled under his arm as he leaned close, pressing his warm lips to mine. Something bumped against my chest, and I shifted away long enough to take in the amulet.

“Conreth gave that to you.”

He gave me a grumpy, put-upon look. “I don’t want to talk about my brother.”

I laughed, nuzzling close. “This was the best day of my life.”

“Mine too. I know it’s a human custom, but…it means something to be your husband as well. Mates don’t often marry. They don’t need to. A mating is for eternity, and none would disrespect it. But our wedding wasn’t just so you could feel we were bonded together in your culture as well as mine.”

“Is that so?”

He angled his head, watching me closely. “It was another way to tie you to me. Another way to make it clear to everyone that you’re mine.”

“Well,” I said, doing my best to keep my face blank. “Now that is truly shocking.”