Page 47 of Beyond Enemy Vows

I offer a smile, but something inside me tightens. I look down at the basket of bread.

My mind flickers, uninvited, to the past eight weeks.

Sneaking out, slipping away under the excuse of "early morning sparring" or "late-night conditioning" to meet Niko in parking garages and luxury hotel rooms.

Or that one time Dimitri almost caught us. Almost saw me getting out of Niko's car. Dimitri thought he was picking me up from a boxing session, but I didn't even go inside. I was with Niko, in his back seat. Thankfully, a messy, disheveled look with flushed cheeks matches what I'd look like after working out.

I wish I could tell her everything. Tell her about the weeks falling for someone harder than I meant to in secret. But I can't. I don't want her in that position, keeping things from my brother.

"Calli? Earth to Calli?"

"Sorry," I say, forcing a soft laugh. "Didn't sleep well last night."

"Mmm." She eyes me, and for a second, I wonder if she's figured it out. How much does she know? Or maybe I'm just paranoid because I'm so used to lying lately.

She leans back in her chair, folds her arms. "Look, I love you like a sister. You know that, right?"

I nod. "Of course, and same."

"And I'm not trying to push. But something's up. I can feel it. You don't have to tell me what it is. Just, be careful."

I glance down, avoiding her gaze. "I am."

"Ares is starting to notice," she adds. "He asked me the other night if something was up with you. Said you've been?—"

Before she can finish, Ares returns, phone tucked back into his pocket. "Sorry about that. Business." He sits down, reaching for his wine. "What did I miss?"

"Nothing," I say too quickly. "Just girl talk."

When the food comes, I barely eat. My stomach is upset and knotted, just like it's been all day dreading this dinner. I've found it's been easier to avoid everyone than be in situations like this, where I have to bend the truth.

I try to be my usual bubbly self, but I have this nagging voice in my head that they aren't buying it. Or Katerina is seeing right through it. My brothers, I could skirt the line a bit. But another woman? That's hard.

I'm relieved when dinner's over and we part ways, taking separate cars back to the Kastaris estate with me promising to have lunch with Katerina next week.

My driver takes the scenic route. I don't speak. I normally do, but not tonight. It's okay. Ryan understands. He was one of my father's men before Ares took over, and he's never been chatty so he's probably thankful for the silence.

I hate lying to Katerina, especially since this involves her cousin. Hate brushing off Ares. But what do I say? That I'm sleeping with someone you'd never approve of or that you may even consider an enemy? That I wear his collar in bed and his diamond around my neck in public? That I care for him so much I'm starting to question if I lov?—

God, do I? I can't even think about it right now. But there is something that hangs between us, unspoken but present in every touch, every secret meeting, every risk we take to be together.

I just. Ugh, I want to get home.

By the time Ryan pulls through the gates and drives up to my house on the estate, my head is pounding. I mumble thanks and hurry inside.

In my room, I peel off my coat and kick off my heels, heading straight for the closet and getting into my pajamas. I crawl into bed, exhausted but too wired to sleep. My hand reaches for my phone on the nightstand.

It buzzes just as I pick it up. Happiness sparks in my chest.

But it's not Niko. It's an alert from my period tracking app. I go to swipe it away but I do a double-take as I read it. I shake my head and read it again, bringing it closer to my face as if the words will change.

"You're in full flow. Be kind to yourself."

My stomach drops. I sit up, suddenly wide awake.

No. No, no, no.

I open the app, swipe back, look at my calendar, go back to the app.