Page 113 of Royal Bargain

I flinch.

“I’m serious,” he says, stepping closer, eyes burning into mine. “Whatever this is, whatever you’re keeping from me—I need to know. I can’t protect you if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”

My mouth opens, but the words get stuck behind my teeth.

“I’ve killed for you,” he says, quieter now. “I’ve risked everything for you. And I’d do it again—gladly. But I need you to trust me.”

He waits.

I stay quiet.

And that silence says more than anything else ever could.

Liam exhales like I just punched the air from his lungs. His eyes darken—not with rage, but with something far worse.

Hurt.

And then,

34

LIAM

Ana stiffens beneath my gaze, her mouth pressed into a tight, stubborn line.

I almost stand up.

Almost walk out—because I’m so goddamn tired of the silence. The lies. The way we circle each other, hoping the truth will just stop needing to be said.

But then,

“I’ve been keeping things from you,” she blurts, voice cracking like a branch under too much weight.

I freeze.

She won’t look at me. “I didn’t mean to. I just didn’t know how to say it. And the longer I waited, the worse it felt. Like maybe saying it would make it all fall apart.”

Anger flares—hot, fast. “Jesus, Ana?—”

“I know.” Her voice is sharp now, cutting through the fog. Her eyes finally meet mine, wet with guilt. “I know, okay? I messed up.”

I don’t answer. Can’t. My heart’s in my throat. I can still feel the fight in my blood, adrenaline not quite spent. But buried beneath it, something else stirs—something softer, quieter.

Because the truth is, I’ve been hiding things too.

Big things.

Dangerous things.

I shift my weight, jaw clenched. Everything inside me feels tight, twisted.

“I’ve been lying too,” I say.

Her head jerks up.

She searches my face like she thinks she heard wrong. Like I’m someone else for even admitting it.

“Why?” she whispers.