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Only, now Zeke was clearly expectant, unlocking the door and gesturing for her to enter ahead of him. He was wearing a small smile, blue eyes warm and hopeful that she’d approve of the place. Her betrayal coiled itself in her belly, its venom threatening to overpower her, but she forced herself to return the smile and push the door to slide open.
He followed on her heels. She could almost feel his hands wanting to reach for her, place themselves on her hips and be a part of ushering her forward. How would he touch her if she told him she wanted him to? Would he want to? What if he wasn’t attracted to her at all.
“What do you think?” his voice stopped the budding anxiety in its tracks.
She looked around the massive space, the floor to ceiling windows overlooking the twinkling lights of the city, stretching toward the ocean lining the blackened horizon. The walls were wood paneled, the ceiling painted white and slanted to allow for more light. A staircase led to a landing that was lined with doors to the upstairs rooms. An enormous expressionist painting covered the left wall. Other than that, there was no art, only fifties inspired furniture and minimalistic touch. A kitchen stretched to her right along the back wall, the island hosting the stovetop facing the view.
“It’s amazing,” she offered. She meant it. It was breath-taking, flooded with warm light from the floor lamps scattered about the place.
“I want you to feel comfortable here,” he said. “Even if we’re kind of… new to this whole thing.”
He huffed a laugh, a smile lingering that lit up his eyes with warmth. It seemed genuine, but even though she’d been fooled before, this time the expression made her want to explore. She wanted to dig down deep and understand why he was doing this. She was going to have to brave it. Assessing whether he was telling the truth or not was necessary. Perhaps she wouldn’t be able to tell if he was lying, but she sure had to try.
“Why did you agree to the pact?” she asked. “Why did you choose to bind yourself to me?”
“Oh,” he said. “Not beating about the bush with that one.”
“I think, since this is… what it is… it’s better to be direct, don’t you?” She didn’t want to push him, but his expression had turned earnest as he watched her with slightly widened eyes. He looked like a deer in headlights, which made her smile, wishing they could dispel the tension that kept rising between them.
“Yes, of course, you’re right,” he said. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way… But then again, I think both of us are here out of obligation. Right?” She nodded. “If I had refused you as my mate, my sister would have been bound to one of your brothers. I couldn’t let that happen.”
She stared at him, pulse hard at her throat at the thought of one of her brothers charged with looking after Aline Kumarinova for the rest of the poor girl’s life.
“You didn’t know?” Zeke asked.
“Of course I didn’t know,” she said, eyebrows raised, arms crossing in front of her chest.
“Sorry, I wasn’t sure,” he apologized.
“What do you think is going on?” she braved, unsure of whether he would want to discuss it with her at all.
“For the whole thing to be so rushed?” he asked. She nodded again. “Doesn’t bode well, does it?” She shook her head.
“Did your father tell you about a war between the families?”
“Isn’t there always a war going on between the families?” Zeke asked.
“Yes, but this time, it’s different…”
“Different how?” Zeke wondered. “Have you seen something? Heard something?”
She felt her hackles go up immediately. Was he interrogating her for his father’s gain? She turned from him, wandering up to the large windows to stare out at the city. She’d grown up in it. She knew the streets, the landmarks. Here it was, spread at her feet, and she’d never felt less like a queen in her life.
“I’m sorry, I know how that sounded,” he said.
“You don’t have to apologize,” she replied. “I guess I’m a bit on edge. I don’t…” She stopped herself, almost biting her tongue, but finished saying, “I don’t know what you want from me.”
“I barely know that myself,” he admitted. “Do you know what you want from me?”
News on something called the Incendiary, she thought ruefully, but somehow looking out at the miniature streets had calmed her, helped her create a different framework for her actions.
This city was her city. It was their city. What she was doing was not only to protect her family, but to protect the innocent people bound to end up in the crossfire if this war broke out in earnest. Perhaps, if she were to be discovered, that argument would keep her from being judged too harshly.
“No,” she finally offered. “I’ve no idea what I want from you.”
The corner of his mouth lifted in a half-smile and before she could stop herself, she’d reached up a hand, placing it against his cheek to get his eyes on hers.
There was no kiss shared once the ceremony was ended.
