Page 42 of The Freedom You Seek
“Dion—” I couldn’t suppress an exasperated groan. His habit of replying with one-word answers was driving me crazy.
“Fig raised a significant point. You’re an adult woman traveling with five males. If they don’t recognize you from the posters, there’s a chance the authorities will arrest you anyway to find out if you ran away from your guardian.”
Shit. Suspicions about what this little chat was about tightened my throat. “I could pass for Antas’ or Fig’s daughter.” I was glowering at Dion. If he thought I’d cooperate easily, he was in for a surprise.
“I suggested the same, but Fig was opposed to the idea. You’re very obviously an adult, and one of them claiming you as their daughter could at least cause an investigation to find out if it’s true. You don’t have enough mutual history to answer questions about your past.”
“Then we’ll fabricate a story and learn it.”
“There isn’t enough time left, and we want to avoid an interrogation at any cost.”
As much as I hated his reasoning, I couldn’t deny that he was correct. That happened far too often for my taste. “So, what’s the alternative, Dion?”
In contrast to his usually fluid motions, the way he reached for the small satchel hanging from his belt was wooden. As if controlled from the outside, he handed me the small pouch. “Believe me, I probably hate this more than you.”
“If it’s what I’m thinking, you’ll be most likely wrong about that.” Taking hold of the satchel, I was convinced I already knew what it held and frowned at the small bag. “I have to be the property of one of you? Like a slave?”
“No.Fuck, how can you think anyone would go for a story like that? I detest the laws that limit females to mere objects, but I absolutelydespiseslavery.”
His eyes blazed with fire, and my treacherous heart fluttered. I had no clue that he cared so much about this topic, but I was glad he did and that not all of my prejudices turned out to be reality. “Then tell me what plan you men came up with.”
“Jama, you’re going to be my wife.” Dion’s deep voice had a hard edge to it, and he was obviously preparing himself for a discussion.
And I wouldn’t disappoint him. The suggestion of playingDion’s wifewas so absurd that I snorted in derision. “Why do we have to pretend to be married? Can’t you just be a crew of bodyguards bringing me to my intended?”
“In that case, you’d travel in a coach.”
“Then, in the gods’ good names, let’s get one.”
Dion just grimaced at me as if I was speaking nonsense. “I can’t even honor such idiocy with an answer.”
“The real idiocy is the idea of us pretending to be a married couple. We can barely tolerate each other on the best of days.” Sure, I was exaggerating. And yes, it was true, Dion and I got off to a rocky start, but after we’d traveled together for a while, we mostly got along if I disregarded the way he constantly drove me insane. And besides, there were enough men and women connected in matrimony who despised each other, which made my argument even flimsier, and from the dangerous glint in Dion’s eyes, I could tell he was thinking the same and considering whether to make a sarcastic remark or not.
“Believe me, I’ve tried to find another way. I despise the idea of faking a genuine bond between two people. But Fig was adamant.”
I eyed Dion and sensed there was more to it, but I was far too annoyed to pry further. Instead, I opened the satchel and peered inside to look at the jewelry. The silver choker I found was simple and showcased no gems or jewels, which was at least a small relief. Stomaching an ostentatious piece would have been an impossibility for me, that much was certain. However, the choker was inconspicuous, and the only decorative element on it was an engraved design of tiny leaves to the left and right of the center.
The matching husband’s bracelet had the same engraved pattern circling its middle in a single line. If I hadn’t felt violated only by looking at the jewelry, I would have liked its appearance.
Dion should be glad, though, that the piece wasn’t lockable. Nothing short of divine intervention would ever make me wear one of those again. Yet, one question spun on a loop in my mind. “Why are you carrying wedding jewelry around?”
“Because Fig bought it a few days ago. You’re probably the only one who didn’t see this coming.” Dion shrugged, and he massaged his forehead as he glared at the jewelry in my hand.
Somehow, his apparent dissatisfaction made the whole situation a little more bearable.
“Then let’s get this over with.” I finally caved and opened the clasp of the silver band, trying to hide how tight my chest had become.
“No. Let me.” Dion quickly pried the choker out of my trembling hands, which froze in position as if I was still holding on to the piece of jewelry. Ignoring the fact that I squeezed my eyelids shut, he stepped closer to me.
More gently than expected, he placed only his fingertips on my paralyzed upper arms, and his soft touch guided me into movement until my back was turned to him.
Dion’s barely there grip turned into a tighter contact between his hands and my tense shoulders. The hold he had on me wasn’t painful but secure, as if he needed to ensure I wouldn’t bolt at the slightest movement.
I was completely caught off guard by his unexpected demeanor and did nothing to resist any of it. His actions were so different from when my mother had locked Jelric’s choker around my neck, and yet the unwanted memories invaded my reality and merged into something surreal.
“Shh, Nayana. Come back to me. The past is no place for you anymore. We’ll replace whatever you’re remembering with something better, alright?”
Sometimes, it was as if Dion had a sixth sense when I’d left reality for the horrorscape of my memories, and there was no ounce of condescending in his tone, much to the contrary. If I were in a better place, I’d marvel at the startling empathy he showed—one I never thought he’d even possess.