Page 125 of Savage Empire

“Well, I don’t know!” he exclaims, arms flying up. “I’m in shock here. This is…I don’t understand. That ring is fucking huge,Jesus.”

“Language,” I warn.

“I think I’ve earned a few curses,” he snarks. “My sister is engaged to my mentor—a man I was pretty sure she hates. Vehemently.”

“I don’thatehim,” I mutter. “He’s easy to argue with, but we’ve come to an understanding.”

“We’ve become friends,” Apollo adds, giving me a pointed look.

“Fine, yes, we’re friends. You don’t need to make it sound so mushy.”

Yordan looks between us, eyes still swimming with disbelief. “So, you don’t love each other?”

“No,” Apollo says at the same time I burst out, “No, definitely not.”

My future husband scowls. “Definitely not, how charming.”

“Well, we don’t!” I defend.

Suddenly, Yordan looks almost sick. “You’re going to have a baby.”

My heart squeezes. “Yes.”

“You want that?” he asks, unsure.

“I do,” I say softly, reaching out to pat his hand. “Being a mom has always been in my plans. Apollo will be a good father.” I feel my future husband’s gaze hot on the side of my face as I say it.

“And this isn’t some weird payment for everything you’ve done for us?” Yordan asks, turning to his mentor with a vulnerable shine to his eyes. The question is so soft, like he had to ask it but wishes he didn’t.

“No,” Apollo answers evenly. “It’s a mutually beneficial agreement. Rayna has put in her own requests for the contract, and I’ve honored them.”

“I wouldn’t have agreed to anything if Apollo were being shady,” I add, lifting my chin. “I told you I would steal you off into the middle of the night and make us disappear before I put us in another bad situation.”

And I would.

I would do whatever it takes to avoid another cage like the one Federico put us in. We were trapped for so long, and weeks ago I would loathe to admit it, but Apollo has freed us. I feel anything but imprisoned here.

“I never thought you wanted to get married,” Yordan admits, looking down at his plate. “Not after…”

“Yes.” I can understand why he may have thought that. “But I think we both know that Apollo is going to be in our lives for the foreseeable future. He may as well make us official members of the family.”

“Well, when you put it like that,” he jokes, demeanor softening as he looks back up. “You’re sure?”

“I’m sure.”

I am. As crazy as this change has been, I’ve already come to terms with it. I’ve come to be almost excited about it, really.

“So, are we moving in together?” He looks to Apollo. “How will that work? Isn’t the mansion getting a bit crowded these days?”

“We’ll live together,” Apollo answers. “First in the mansion, then in our own house we’ll build on the property.”

My stomach flips, imagining our future home. I wonder how much of it Apollo will let me design. The kitchen and our room, at least, I hope.

“And uh, I’ll get to stay there?”

“Of course you will,” I rush out, almost snapping the answer. “Why wouldn’t you?”

“Just checking,” Yordan replies, looking hesitantly down at the table. “I wasn’t sure how the dynamic would change. You’ll be a family…”