But I also saw the fear underneath his anger. The genuine terror that he'd fail.
That this wasn't about control. It was about not watching someone else die.
“Fine,” I ground out. “We do it your way. For now.”
“For now is not agreement.”
“It's all you're getting.”
His jaw worked. Then he lowered the comm. “State dinner is cancelled. Hospital opening is postponed. Gala will have triple security or you do not attend.”
“The state dinner can't be cancelled. We have foreign dignitaries coming.”
“Then they come to palace. We move dinner to secure location. Smaller venue. Controlled guest list.”
“That's going to create a diplomatic incident.”
“Better diplomatic incident than state funeral.”
I flinched. He saw it. His expression softened slightly.
“I am not trying to make your life difficult,” he said. Quieter now. “I am trying to make sure you have life at all.”
“I know.” The anger was draining out of me. Leavingjust exhaustion. “I just hate feeling helpless. Hate that someone can make me afraid in my own home.”
“Is not helpless to be smart about danger. Is survival.”
“Survival isn't living.”
“No. But is required for living.” He stepped back. Gave me space. “We will find middle ground. You do your duty. I do mine. But you have to meet me halfway. Have to trust that when I say something is too dangerous, I am not trying to control you. I am trying to keep you breathing.”
I nodded. Unable to speak around the tightness in my throat.
“Get some rest,” Viktor said. “I will be outside if you need anything.”
He moved toward the door. Hand on the handle.
“Viktor?”
He paused. Looked back.
“Thank you. For earlier. For pulling me out of the way.”
Then he was gone. Door closing softly behind him.
I stood there in the silence. Feeling the weight of almost dying. Of the argument. Of the unspoken things hanging between us.
My hands were shaking.
I pressed them against my thighs until the trembling stopped. Until I could breathe normally again. Until I could pretend I was fine.
But I wasn't fine.
7
GARDEN PACT
VIKTOR
