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“Do it, my love,” he murmured. “Quick and painless.”

In a few more breaths, it would all be over.

In a few more moments, his wife would be free.

Chapter 8

Bladework

Oh, Gods.

Tes’s palm dampened around the hilt of the knife, and her heart raced until she thought it might free itself from her chest. One single motion. That was all it would take for the betrayal to be avenged. Wasn’t it? With Ber’s skin warm against her thumb and his energy meshing with hers, her resolve wavered.

The back of his chair rested between their bodies, yet she could feel him as though they’d embraced. Perfect as always. Her one and only home. How could she destroy her home? Her throat closed around a tight knot of pain, and her hands trembled. He was the one who’d destroyed everything.

I must stay strong.

“Fine,” Ber said in a clipped tone—though she knew him well enough to catch the exhaustion beneath it. “Draw out the torment if you must, so long as you kill me in the end.”

Her cheek brushed the soft strands of his long, black hair. The woodsy scent of his soap nearly brought her to her knees even as her mind puzzled over the mystery of him. He was too adamant about this. There had to be some dark plan beneath his words.

“Why are you so eager to die?”

“I’m not.” His hand wrapped around her wrist, and she stiffened. But instead of forcing her arm away, he pressed until the blade dug into his throat. “I swore on our wedding day that I was yours, body and soul. I meant it. Do what you must with me, then salvage this mess. You’ll find much in the journal.”

Her gaze landed on the plain brown book in the center of the desk. She’d spent nearly a year enchanting it, layering on spell after spell. Most who opened the book would find homilies on the Goddess of Light, but she and Ber could unlock and use the blank pages within. So he’d decided to leave her one final message, hmm?

“I’m sure it’ll be full of lies,” Tes muttered.

Ber huffed. “Believe what you will. It won’t make a difference to me once I’m dead.”

Something warm and wet slipped beneath her thumb, and Tes let out a choked gasp. He’d forced the blade close enough to break the skin, but he hadn’t so much as twitched.This isn’t right.Ber was many things—a traitor the worst of all of them—but he wasn’t the type to give up like this. Yet she could swear that he honestly wanted her to kill him.

In Llyalia, Toren had sounded nearly convinced of his brother’s innocence, though the two had fought each other for most of their lives. She wouldn’t have expected Toren to ever waver in his hatred of Ber. Now, Tes could understand why. If this odd behavior was an act, it was certainly baffling enough to create doubt. Like Toren, she had to learn more for herself.

Tes tugged against Ber’s hold, but he wouldn’t let her pull away. “Gods’ light, Tes. Stop hesitating and do it.”

“Not yet,” she countered, trying harder to free herself. More wetness merely coated her thumb for the effort. “You owe me a full explanation. Turn around and tell me.”

His hold didn’t budge. So, she did the only thing she could think of—she bit down lightly on the tip of his ear. Of course, it worked. Ber froze beneath her like a statue, his groan rumbling beneath her hand as it rose up his throat. There was a benefit to knowing another person’s body as well as one’s own.

“I’ve changed my mind about the torment,” he gasped.

Her nipples hardened at the breathy sound, so familiar, and her mouth went dry. “Stop being a coward and speak to me face-to-face.”

“I can’t do this, my love,” Ber said, his voice choked. “If I have to guide the knife myself, then I’ll—”

Tes ran her tongue down the sensitive side of his ear to that one particular spot just behind the lobe. He jumped, and she took advantage of his surprise to finally free her arm. But she nearly toppled over when Ber leaped to his feet with enough force to shove the chair back. She’d just managed to right herself when he grabbed her wrist again, jerking her hard against his body.

His eyes could scald flesh with their intensity. “Were you trying to rouse my passions?”

She hadn’t been, but the heat searing her insides betrayed the lingering attachment within her heart. What was wrong with her? She hated him now. Her body absolutelyshould notcrave his. But the warm comfort of his touch sprang the trap waiting within her, ready to bring her to ruin. She found herself softening a little against him.

At the sight of the gash and the trail of drying blood on his throat, her chest squeezed, but she lifted her chin instead of revealing her concern. “I wasn’t trying to rouse anything,” she finally replied. “I knew it would make you loosen your grip.”

“Oh, indeed?” Abruptly, he grabbed her arse, forcing her hips close until she could feel the ridge of his hard cock betweenthem.Gods.It took all her willpower to hold in a whimper. “I don’t believe you, love. You know exactly what that does to me.”

“So much for being ready to die,” she mumbled.