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“Likewise,” Laya concurred.
Curious, I leaned in. “What did you observe about Leon?”
Avra’s gaze flickered, hesitant. “He exudes a calm charm, but don’t be fooled. In private, his nature shifts. He carries a history of unyielding ruthlessness.”
“In our world, who isn’t sharpened by violence?” I remarked, a wry twist in my tone. “I only hope he reserves that intensity for others, not me.”
“Both men are good choices, but I think it’s going to come down to how they make you feel when you are around them.” Avra’s penetrating gaze studied my face.
“Trust your instincts, Cali,” Laya added. “The right choice will feel unmistakable.”
“I have every intention of doing just that,” I replied.
Both men exuded success and striking looks. Either could bolster our family name, or Avra wouldn’t have included them at all.
I was set on meeting them both, giving each a fair shot, but Leon’s image kept interrupting my thoughts, shadowed by Avra’s caution about his reputation.
The thought of someone who wielded power with an iron grip captivated me. Such a man, exuding raw strength, was a magnet for my attention. It was as if he were born with these formidable traits.
In the looming presence of danger that accompanied me as a Vitalis, such a partner would serve as my stronghold.
After leaving Avra’s house, my mind churned with thoughts of both men, yet Leon’s face lingered, refusing to fade as I lay in bed that night.
The significance eluded me, yet it resonated deeply.
It felt like destiny, an unspoken connection, even though we had never crossed paths.
What did that mean? I wondered.
Two
LEON
I pulled the blue tie from around my neck and let it drop onto the bed, reaching instead for the sleek black silk one I had initially picked. The silk flowed effortlessly around my neck as I guided it beneath my collar, carefully crafting a flawless knot while observing my reflection in the mirror.
I needed to appear impeccably groomed and composed.
Today held significance, something I wanted everyone, particularly Calista Vitalis, to recognize.
The phone call informing me of her desire to meet and discuss a potential partnership had caught me off guard for a moment.
The concept of arranged marriages was a familiar one in ourcircles, yet it was something I had never genuinely considered for myself. I had always imagined finding a woman more organically, with things naturally falling into place.
However, the idea of marrying a Vitalis sister was undeniably fascinating. Their family wielded considerable influence, and the recent return of the sisters, after years away, spoke volumes about their resilience and strength.
I had followed the stories of the territories they had reclaimed and the marriages of the other two sisters.
However, I hadn’t realized Calista was contemplating marriage herself.
Given her past, it was unexpected. After enduring the horrific ordeals she had faced, I assumed she would prefer to remain single, allowing herself time to heal. But it seemed I had underestimated her readiness to move forward, to face the world anew.
Clearly, I was wrong.
I was genuinely flattered to be considered a candidate.
When Vik Remes, Calista’s family representative and childhood guardian, invited me to join her for lunch in Glyfada, a charming coastal village just outside of Athens, I jumped at the chance. However, after a week of reflecting on the situation, my mind had become a jumbled mess of confusion.
Determined to prepare myself, I began exploring the extensive history of the Vitalis family, refreshing my memory of their legacy and influence.