I sighed. “I’m being serious, Arya.”
“Okay, okay, shoot. What is it?”
“I need to see your arm,” I asked tentatively.
There was a pregnant pause, and I thought maybe she didn’t hear me. The room was so quiet it was almost deafening.
“Why?” Defensiveness had crept into her tone.
“Does it matter? Just show me—”
“Hell yeah, it matters!” she exclaimed a little too loudly.
“Shh!” I quieted her. “You’ll alert the guards!”
She scoffed. “You’re asking to see a part of my body in the middle of the night. Don’t you think that’s a bit rude?”
“I’ve already seen some of you,” I said knowingly, thinking about the mark on her lower back. The thought made me blush. Thank the immortals we were in the dark.
“And that’sallyou’re going to see.” Her voice held the ring of stubbornness. “I don’t know what your uncle told you today, but—”
“He told me about the mark on your arm,” I cut her off. “And that’s why I need to see it.”
“Why?” she countered. “What’s it to you?”
I exhaled loudly, fighting to keep my temper in check. “Arya…” I growled. “Please – and know that I don’t generally say this to other people – but could youpleaseshow me your mark?”
There was another lengthy pause before I heard her move. She shuffled toward the right and rustled some things around before there was a spark of fire and a candle flared to life.
“Come on,” she hurried me. “You want to see the mark or not? We need light.” She pulled up her sleeve.
In the soft glow of candlelight, I saw that her entire forearm was covered with different markings. Not a single space of skin was spared. I inched closer and gently took her wrist, turning her forearm over to see her inner arm and bringing it closer to the light. When I saw the image, I had to hold in my gasp.
Plain as day, the twin flame mark stood out like a beacon in the midst of all the other marks surrounding it. It was identical to the one emblazoned on my inner forearm.
I gently brushed my thumb across the dragon and phoenix etched on her soft skin, making her shiver in my hands. I couldn’t believe it. I’d found it… foundher.
“When… when did you get this?” I choked out as I pointed to the twin flame mark.
She frowned and looked up at me. “Why does everyone ask me that?” she mumbled as she pulled her arm out of my grasp. “The night before the boat accident.”
Air escaped my lungs.
It must be a sign. A sign I missed because I kept chasing after Gianna. I looked at Arya, the candlelight flickering across her face in the darkness and for the first time, I noticed the soft features of her expression. The plumpness of her rosy lips. The golden flecks in her honey brown eyes. Her bronze cheeks that on any other lady would be tinged pink. She was a beauty; one I had avoided at all costs due to her trickster temperament.
But Arya wasn’t the same as before. No, she was different now.
I closed in and boxed her against the wall with one arm. She stumbled back with a frown and planted a hand on my chest to stop me.
“What the hell are you doing?” she whispered.
I placed my other hand on the wall so she couldn’t get away and stared as if really seeing her for the first time. Maybe I was.
“Come with me,” I murmured and leaned forward, breathing in her lavender scent.
Her frown deepened. “What? No!” she said adamantly. “I’m not going anywhere with you. Get out! I showed you my arm, now leave. This is… inappropriate. We had a deal, Damien—”
I couldn’t keep the possessive growl from my voice. “Well, that deal is null and void. I changed my mind.” I snatched her wrist and held it against the wall, pinning her there. “You’re coming with me. Either you come voluntarily, or I take you by force.”
