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It was sad that it wasn’t even a metaphor.

He legitimately held my hand for four hours.

He started rolling the other sleeve up, not saying anything.

“So, will you take me home?” I grabbed my phone off the table, avoiding his eyes.

“I’ll take you home.”

Great. So, then I can burst into tears and process this already. It wasn’t just the tattoo. Every time I read the Crows Oath, I find a new ritual to keep me up at night. Like the claiming ritual.

I should have known he agreed too quickly. He used the wordhometoo freely. Vince wasn’t the type of guy that hovered, but since we got back to his house. He hadn’t left my side for more than a few minutes.

As if scared as soon as he was out of my sight, I’d change my mind and not marry him. Which made no sense, because his family’s crest is now outlined on my back.

Though, him being this nervous was a great distraction from my own problems.

Laying on my stomach, I looked across the couch. Immediately, he looked down at his phone. Again. Pretending not to be watching me.

“Vince, I need to ask you a question.”

He nodded, looking suddenly pale.

“I read the oath again last night. It says we have to have children.” It actually had a suggested number of what is expected. No wonder they all have big families. “What if I can’t have them? Is there consequences if we don’t?”

“Mom did us all by surrogates. Normally two at once. It’s why we're all close in age.”

I’m sure having one newborn was hard enough, let alone two newborns in one year. Gosh, imagine the twins and Rome in the same year. Three.

“I’m not having children.” Running his hand over his head, “It’s not up for discussion. I’ve given my life to the oath. I’m not giving kids as well.”

That was fair. He and Nikolai had already raised children.

Vince skipped being a teenager and went straight to being a parent.

Most fifteen-year-olds don’t have to care for five children under five.

Then there was the thing with his grandfather. Which he refused to talk about.

“About the blood thing. Do they really all do that to me?” Only his family had a book as thick as the bible full of their own twisted rituals.

That distant look in his eyes, as he nodded.

“What about the um,” I paused, my stomach twisted into a tight knot, “After the ceremony, do they really watch us?” Every time I read that ritual, I hoped I had read it wrong. “They watch us fuck. All of them?”

Again, he nodded. God. I felt suddenly sick.

“When the time comes, you’re to keep your eyes on me. Just focus on me.”

“I highly doubt every one of your male relatives and their wives, will turn suddenly invisible.”

Getting up, he walked towards me, kneeling in front of me. “Is that what’s upsetting you?” he brushed my hair back. “Talk to me, my love, please.” Stroking my cheek. “Have you changed your mind?”

Had I changed my mind? Was he serious? I had sat through nearly four hours of pain for him. And I still had more to look forward to!

Not to mention our families had decided on this merger.

If he didn’t look physically sick from asking that question, I would yell at him.