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“Stop being a dick,” I snarled.
He glared at me. “You think this is going to work out? You realize you have to pay an exit fee.”
I shoved my hands in my pockets. “I know.”
Molly’s eyes darted back and forth. “What is he talking about?”
I shook my head. “I’ll explain later. We have about two minutes before we have to get back to the ballroom. I need to know that the secrecy of the gala is safe between us. Whatever happened between you two is your business until it interferes with me, then it becomes mine. You are walking a fine line right now with that distinction.”
Roux’s eyebrows knitted together. “You bastard. You get everything you want. Even her.”
“Molly hasn’t done anything to you. And I doubt Brooklyn has either. You’re being a royal ass. If you don’t want to be here, leave. Nothing is keeping you here.”
“Except Carina,” he retorted.
Molly looked confused. “Who is Carina?”
“His wife,” Brooklyn answered. “Lady Roux.”
“You’re married?” It was as if a small explosive had been detonated in the middle of us.
“Don’t look at me like that. It was an arranged marriage. Royal convenience,” he explained.
There was no rule in the society that members had to be single. With only a one-night commitment, it didn’t matter, but something had happened between Sebastian and Brooklyn. Carina was apparently a problem.
“Is that why you didn’t want to talk about it?” Molly asked her friend. “You didn’t want me to know he was married?”
“I couldn’t. We agreed. And it was complicated.” Her eyes darted to Sebastian.
He stepped in front of me, separating the girls. He slipped a hand around Brooklyn’s waist, tugging her toward him. “I can’t help it. I can’t get the other night out of my head. And then tonight I saw you by the staircase. Do you know I almost left Carina right then?”
“I can’t either forget it either, but …”
“But nothing.” Sebastian pressed his forehead to hers.
Damn it.
I interrupted. “Roux, you can’t leave Carina. And this can’t happen.”
“I know that,” he hissed. “Some of us can’t write laws and grant positions for women we love.”
“I’m not married,” I corrected him. “You would lose your title. Carina will destroy you. Her family will come after you with everything.”
“Don’t you think I fucking know that?”
“You are the reason Lesage has contracts in place. This is why he has to protect the society. What have you done?”
“Me? You brought a tally into the palace.”
I backed up. I realized he was mad at his situation. Pissed at the world. I received the brunt of it because I had Molly. In his eyes I had won something he couldn’t have. Personal happiness. He had no idea what he was talking about. Molly was the only light I had.
“Can’t we do something?” Molly asked.
I
shook my head. “My hands are tied. I granted the marriage. I joined two royal households.”
“But what about the modern monarchy,” she pleaded.
