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“I was serious earlier.”

She stilled.

“I wish you to marry me and be my heartkeeper.”

She wondered why he was asking her this, and for a few moments, she used all her skills to sense if he was lying to her. But he was not, and she felt instantly ashamed for even having a single moment of doubt.

This was Ilie Marcovici, one of the men chosen to be the Duke of Brimstone’s Galeré. Demon or not, the half-angel duke would not have trusted the marquis if he was not honorable.

And more than that—-

Hadn’t she always known he was good?

Hadn’t that been the reason she had resisted for so long to meet him?

But fate had intervened.

Shouldn’t she take that as a good sign?

She heard herself ask, “Why?”

The marquis answered slowly, “You must know the answer to that. Heartkeeping is what ensures we do not completely turn.”

“And that’s it?”

“Should there be another reason?”

“You can have another woman as your heartkeeper, can you not?”

“Yes,” he allowed. “It’s true. But we also know any woman is different from the one that fate chose for me.”

The answer was more than she had hoped for, but...she wanted more. Was it silly and foolish of her to want everything?

“What answer do you want to hear, milady?”

She didn’t answer him.

Soon enough, they had reached her home, and he walked her to the door, holding an umbrella for her like an ordinary, courteous gentleman. She invited him inside, hoping he would refuse, but he didn’t.

She led him to the parlor, asking him to wait while she changed into something dry. By the time she came down, she had made her decision.

The marquis was crouched down in front of the fire, staring into the swaying flames like it was a beast he had lived with sincebirth. He had untied his hair, and the sight of those white-gold locks made her memories feel surreal.

Who was she to have touched those locks?

Had it really happened?

He looked up, his silver eyes instantly finding hers, and what he saw in her gaze made him slowly stand up. “You’ve come to tell me of your decision, have you not, milady?”

She nodded.

“Then what is it?” His voice was cool, giving nothing away, but his silvery eyes had turned feral, making her wonder absently if he would really take no for an answer.

“I will be your heartkeeper...if you fall in love with me.”

Part Two

Chapter One