Page 125

“Colum—” Eric started.

“I agreed to the marriage because I believe a joint archive is in the best interest of our society.When Hande stipulated that I marry someone in a leadership position, I accepted the trinity you proposed.Even though,” Colum glanced at Nikolett, “I knew who she was to you.But I knew it would be a marriage in name only, and I was okay with that…before.Now I want more, and I don’t want to be married to the woman my brother loves.”

The room went completely quiet.Annie was pretty sure Nikolett wasn’t even breathing.

Eric’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t say anything.

“I told you I wanted you to dissolve my marriage.Annul it.You said no.”

“No?”Nikolett asked sharply.“He said no?”

Eric reared back, looking baffled.“Colum, I didn’t say?—”

“I,we, want to be together.”Colum looked at her, then Xavier.“And we’re all willing to sacrifice to make it happen.I told you that Xavier is a finance minister, and in a few years, he’ll be the vice admiral when the current one retires, and eventually the admiral of France.He doesn’t want to be admiral, I know he doesn’t, but he’s willing to do it so we have a shot at happiness.

“I know I asked too much, but I thought…” Colum swallowed.“I wanted you to annul the marriage, help get the Grand Master to agree to let Annie come to us, and buy us a few years so Xavier could become admiral.It’s too much, I see that now.”

“Colum, no, it’s?—”

“I know I don’t get to choose who I marry, but I won’t be in a loveless marriage.”

Annie’s throat was tight with tears.

“I want to love someone.I want them to love me too.”Colum swallowed hard.“I’ll never love someone the way I love Annie and Xavier, and it will break me not to have them.But if I step down, then there’s no rule that I have to be married to an admiral.Which means I don’t have to be married to Nikolett.”

Eric’s face was a study in misery, but he’d stopped trying to interrupt.

“What I want is Annie and Xaiver.Since you said I can’t have them, I only ask that you not force me to be Nikolett’s punishment.”

Nikolett made a pained noise, her eyes sliding closed.

Watching the man she loved stand there and admit defeat while begging for a chance at happiness that would only be a pale imitation of what the three of them could have had together was tearing her apart.

Eric stayed silent for several moments, and only when Colum didn’t say anything more did he respond.“Colum, I didn’t say no.”

Annie’s gaze whipped to Xavier, then Colum.

“I didn’t… Fuck, I’m sorry.I was distracted and not really listening.Maybe I did say no.What I meant was, not right now.I couldn’t talk about it right then.”

Colum’s brows creased, confused.Annie shared that emotion.She’d overheard Colum’s call with Eric.He had said no.But…as she played the conversation back, it occurred to her they may have misinterpreted what Eric meant.

“So what are you saying?”Colum asked, the faintest hint of hope in his voice.

“The last thing I want is for you to not know love.”Eric gripped Colum’s shoulders.“To love and be loved…it’s beautiful.And terrifying.”Eric’s gaze traveled from Colum to Xavier to her, before settling on Colum again.“They’re the ones you want?”

No one, in either society, was allowed to pick their trinity…except it sure sounded like Eric was going to let Colum pick his.

“I’m in love with them,” Colum said softly.

“Love,” Eric repeated, the word more breath than sound.

Colum nodded.“They make me happy.”

Eric’s eyes softened at that, the corners of his mouth arching upward, then he turned his attention to Xavier, the heaviness of the moment lifting like it had never been there at all.

Eric clapped Colum on the shoulder.“Sit down, let’s figure this out.”

Annie couldn’t stop the grin that split her face as Colum returned to his seat, looking a little shell-shocked.