“Ordered pizza!” Izzy called out. “Come on, Vi, tell me all about how terrifying it is to study under Nikolai.”
“Did you know he’s related to Jack the Ripper?” King offered up.
“How was I the only one who didn’t know this?” I threw my hands up in the air and nearly took Ash out even though I’d known for years, we all had to keep our secrets.
“Because you slept with my sister,” Ash said simply.
“Yeah, he’s not letting that go anytime soon,” I grumbled. “I’m just gonna go clean up.”
I didn’t give Violet a second glance when I ran up the stairs and turned on the shower.
Slowly, I peeled my shirt from my body and tossed it in the trash. What was with Abandonatos ruining my shirts lately?
I was already bruising a bit on my right cheek, and my left brow had a cut on it.
I stared at my reflection.
They were right, I really did—
“You look like shit,” came her soft voice.
I hung my head as I braced my body against the sink. “You shouldn’t be in here.”
“I know.” Her soft hands came around my stomach as she rested her head against my back. “But I missed you.”
I squeezed my eyes shut, barely able to grate out the words, “I missed you more.”
I don’t know how long we stayed like that, long enough for steam to fill the room, long enough for me to turn her in my arms and press a chaste kiss to each of her eyelids before kissing each cheek and then her nose. “You were beautiful last night.”
She gasped. “What?”
“Creepy stalker, party of one.” I grinned.
She gave me a little shove as her cheeks went red. “It was… different.”
“Promise me something?” I licked my lips, wishing I was licking hers.
“Anything.” Her eyes darted from my mouth, locking on mine.
“Forgive me,” I whispered. “Promise me you’ll forgive me.”
“What are you going to do?”
“It’s already done,” I said. “And one day soon, it will probably come out, and you won’t look at me like this anymore, but know that everything I’ve done, my reason for living, has always been to keep you safe, first and foremost. I would never do something to put you in danger, and confessing it all right now would make you a target. So just… forgive me.”
“I forgive you.” She said it so innocently, so simply. I wished it was that easy that it erased the darkest parts of my soul.
It didn’t.
“You’re easy to love, Violet, remember that, remember that tonight.” I removed the rest of my clothes and walked into the shower.
She was still standing there when I was finished.
She handed me a towel.
And then she whispered, “Was there really someone else?”
“That you would even believe that…” I sighed. “There will never be anyone else… for as long as I have breath, Violet Abandonato will forever own my soul.”
A tear slid down her cheek.
“Give him a chance, Violet. Get to know him, and maybe you’ll figure out this mess all on your own.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What aren’t you saying?”
“You love me?”
“Yes.”
“Then, you’ll figure it out.” I kissed her forehead one last time, feeling the loss in my chest like I just got ran over by a freight train. “Now leave so I can pee in peace; it would ruin our moment.”
She rolled her eyes and let out a small laugh. “Pretty sure I’ve seen all there is to see, Breaker.”
“Mmmmm…” I grinned. “Pretty sure you haven’t, virgin eyes.”
She gave me a shove, and then she was gone.
I slumped against the countertop again and breathed a sigh of relief. I couldn’t tell her my secrets.
That didn’t mean she couldn’t figure them out on her own.
Hopeful for the first time in days, I smiled at my reflection.
It could work.
It had to.
Because she was mine.
Chapter Twelve
I stalk the desolate streets of night, wondering how to turn wrong to right, knowing that I was the one who made the choice doesn’t lessen the darkness that hides my voice. I am the demon you know my name, say it three times, then say it again. —Valerian Petrov
Violet
I had no idea why Sancto had said I had a curfew. It was weird, to say the least. Valerian was gone all day, according to the staff, and I’d been so on edge that when Izzy texted and said they were in Seattle, I’d nearly sprinted out of the house.
Except.
I was a Petrov now.
I had a driver now.
I wasn’t allowed anywhere without security.
Valerian’s rules.
The only reason they even let me go was because they knew that my family would protect me till the death.
Now that I had returned, the loneliness crept back in. Was this my life now? Just waiting for my husband to come home?
Waiting for him to sleep with me?
I swallowed a gulp of wine and stared at my half-eaten food. I was surrounded by a staff of people, and yet, I’d never felt so alone.