Aldron’s expression sharpens.“Explain.”
I point to the collar.“Can you make a fake?Something that looks like this but doesn’t bind me?”
Akasha’s eyes widen.“A decoy.”
Krishka’s smile turns wicked.“A beautiful, blasphemous decoy.”
Knox turns to me.“No.”
I look at him as he drags a hand over his face.“I know.I know.”
Cruz mutters, “Growth is painful to watch.”
Knox ignores him.“If you wear anything around your throat tomorrow, I might not survive it.”
My heart stumbles.The honesty in his voice is brutal.There’s no control wrapped around it, no command, just truth.
I step closer to him.“Then stand beside me and remember it’s fake.”
His eyes burn.“And if I forget?”
“Then I’ll remind you.”
“That simple?”
“No.”I almost smile.“But apparently my voice reaches you.”
His mouth parts slightly, and heat flickers between us again.Slow and dangerous, but not enough to burn.
Aldron clears his throat, and I nearly throw something at him.
“We will make the decoy,” he says.“But only if Briana agrees to every protection we can place on her without compromising the illusion.”
“I agree.”Knox looks at me, and I sigh.“Within reason.”
“Briana.”
“Fine.I agree.”
Ari grins.“Look at us, compromising like emotionally damaged adults.”
“Speak for yourself,” Cruz says.
For the first time since the box opened, the room breathes again.
Krishka and Akasha take the collar away on the silver tray, their heads bent together, already speaking in low witch terms I don’t understand.Aldron orders the courier’s body removed and the wards checked again.Malichai calls someone named Tavian and uses a voice that makes even Cruz stop joking.
Planning resumes around me, but I stay near Knox.
****
An hour later, Knoxturns to me and says, “You should eat.”
I blink up at him.“That was almost normal.”
“I can be normal.”
I look at the dried blood on his face, and one brow lifts.
