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“It’s not their decision.”

“No, it’s yours. Make sure you’re making the right choice for you, not for who you think you should be.”

“Ty,” I whispered. “All I’ve ever known is Solon. But I know as well as you do that I can’t have a life with Ashur if I’m helping break the laws he’s sworn to uphold. I have to protect him and his presidency. And the best way to do this is by not being any more of a liability than I already am.”

“All I ask is that you don’t make any rash decisions you’ll wish you hadn’t later.”

The problem was that I’d regret not giving Ashur and I a chance if I stayed in Solon.

“When have I ever made a decision without thinking it through?”

At my words, Tyler gave me his “are you serious?” look and gestured to the area around us. “Would you be here if you thought through your relationship with Ashur?”

“It was a lot more rational than you believe.”

“Keep lying to yourself. I know why you agreed to marry him. Do you?”

I swallowed, glancing at Ashur, who was still engrossed in his conversation with Veer.

“Drop it,” I ordered.

“Fine. We have enough shit to worry about besides your refusal to admit you’re still in love with Ashur.”

I clenched my jaw.

“I really want to punch you right now.”

A grin crossed Tyler’s face. “Too bad you have to be prim and proper now that you’re the first lady.”

“Whatever,” I muttered. “I’m heading to a cabin in the woods. There is nothing prim and proper about it.”

“It’s still a vacation. Your first in years, if I remember correctly.”

“Pot, meet kettle,” I stated. “If you recall, my last vacation was with you and Ameera on that beach in the Maldives after the South African assignment.”

“I remember.” Tyler’s voice grew serious.

“Ty, why haven’t you ever told her how you feel?”

“Because she wasn’t ready to hear it.”

“So, you let her think this thing between you two was just sex?”

“It was never just sex.” He clenched his jaw. “She just refused to see it for anything else.”

I shook my head. “Once she’s home, it’s time you two had a long talk.”

“Oh, believe me. We are going to talk.”

I heard Ashur clear his throat and glanced over Tyler’s shoulder, catching Ashur watching us. Under the exhaustion in his eyes was a desire that had my body responding.

“Time to go, boys,” Ashur said as he continued to stare at me. “I’d like to leave before we have another crisis that needs my attention.”

Veer came up to me. “Have fun, T-Rex. Keep him in line. And don’t let him boss you around.”

I shot Tyler a glare. “You got him saying it too?”

Tyler shrugged and said, “It fits. Would you rather I have everyone say Commander?”