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Never do that to us again. Give us a chance to at least convince you otherwise, curse you, Soleil Orpheline!

He nodded grimly at the memory.Every word was damn right,he thought, and his fingers curled into a fist. He hoped to hell that he would never be made to experience such helplessness again.

Throughout the night, the baron and the younger daughters had lectured Soleil about her penchant to keep her trouble to herself. And she had let them, never saying a word in her defense, and if she did speak, it was in calm, soothing tones.

Not once had he heard her cry, Ilie thought, and that alone convinced him he had to be here.

Even though it would have been better and safer to recuperate in Brimstone, he would never abandon Soleil in her time of need—-

Soleil’s bedroom door finally opened, and Ilie waited patiently for his heartkeeper to notice him. He watched her shut the door and promptly lean back against it, closing her eyes wearily.

When she opened her eyes and saw him, the marquis smiled. “Good morning.”

Soleil burst into tears.

As expected,Ilie thought in amusement.

In a blink, they were in bed, Soleil in his lap, and as he licked away her tears, he murmured, “Serves you right, thinking you could get away with something like that—-”

“I-insufferable oaf.”

“Jerk is less of a mouthful,ma lisse.”

She sobbed obediently, “Jerk.”

He kissed her hard, and with her hands trapped between their bodies, Soleil could feel the way his heart thundered against his chest.

“Yes,” he gritted out, reading her unmasked thoughts with ease. “I’m still fucking terrified. I don’t think I will ever forget feeling so damn helpless.”

“I’m sorry.”But more than that, she thought dizzily,she was thankful to him. She stared at the marquis, wondering what could she have possibly done in her past life to deserve someone so exquisite like Ilie Marcovici.

“Don’t worry,” the marquis was muttering.

Even his tone was beautiful.

Everything about him was beautiful.

And he loved her!

He loved her!

“I’ll make you pay—-”

Her feelings spilled over, and she could no longer contain herself. She moved forward and covered her mouth with his.

Ilie stiffened.

She whispered brokenly in his mind,Milord...I love you.

Ah.

A moment later, and he sighed raggedly,Damn you.

More tears streaked down Soleil’s cheeks.Demon.He really was a demon. No one but a demon could have made such words sound so unbearably sweet.

Silver eyes caught blue ones.How do I punish you when you say that?

She couldn’t answer, gasping as she was for in the next moment, he had her lying on her back under him.