Page 51 of Married By Scandal

We kiss until we’re out of breath, until reality sinks in, reminding me of our comatose audience of one. The assailant may be asleep now, but if Dante was correct about the restraint he used, the man will soon wake.

As if reading my mind, Dante pulls away just far enough to cast a glance at the figure’s slumped form. Satisfied with the lack of impending danger, he lets his forehead rest against mine. “How will we make it work? What will happen to the peace between our countries? Will we destroy everything because of…”

He doesn’t need to finish. I know what he’s trying to convey.

Will we destroy everything because of our love?

It casts a haunting shadow over me, an echo from the past. I already caused destruction because of love before. Can I really risk doing so again?

The dark side of me teases and taunts, reminding me that love comes at a cost. It destroys. It hurts. It kills.

But no. That’s all wrong. Love doesn’t destroy. It heals. The dark thing I once shared with Prince Cobalt all those years ago wasn’t love. It may have been lust, perhaps, but not love. What he felt for me wasn’t even love, no matter what he wanted to call it. It was obsession. Possession. He may have saved me, sacrificing his life for mine, and he may have whispered love with his last breath. That doesn’t mean his actions definelove.

I may not be ready to say that word out loud just yet, but I’m eager to learn its true definition. What it means to me. Tous.

First, I must find a way to makeuspossible.

And I already have an inkling of how to make it so.

I place my hand behind Dante’s neck, stroking the hair at his nape. My heart hammers as I prepare to state my next words aloud. Panic threatens to render me mute, but as I hold his gaze and sink into the comfort of his blue irises, I know my question will fall into safe hands. A safe heart.

“Dante, Spy of Bretton, No Last Name, will you marry me?”

He inhales a sharp breath. For one terrifying moment, I fear I was wrong. That he’ll pull away, say no, say I’m crazy. Or at the very least, demand an explanation for such an absurd proposal.

Then the warmest smile I’ve ever had the privilege to witness stretches across his lips, deepening his dimples in a way that makes my stomach flip. “Yes, Amelie Fairfield, I’ll marry you.”

We come together in a gentle press of our lips, a tender promise.

When he pulls away, mischief sparkles in his eyes. “However, I expect a damn nice ring.”

I bark a laugh. “I’ll get you a ring, darling.”

He shakes his head with an exaggerated sigh. “You didn’t even get down on one knee.”

“We’ll save that for our honeymoon,” I say with a wink. “And I’ll be on both knees.”

He blinks at me, registering my bold flirtation. He pulls his bottom lip between his teeth, and his voice dips into a low purr. “Don’t you dare presume you’ll be getting on your knees for me before I’ve had a chance to worship every inch of you first.”

Heat stirs deep in my core. I part my lips, eager for another taste of him, when the sound of movement has us leaping apart.

We turn toward the no-longer-unconscious man as he struggles to push off from the ground. Dante gives me an apologetic look. “It seems we still have work to do. Or I do, at least. This bastard has a date with the authorities and a confession to make.”

The man scrambles to his feet, swaying slightly. “I’ll tell them nothing.”

Dante keeps his eyes on mine, flexing his fingers in preparation for a fight. “We’ll see about that.”

I lift my chin and let my inner fire course down my arms until a blaze of red heat fills my palms. “I’ll be right beside you, dearest.”

Dante doesn’t argue. Doesn’t tell me to stay back and let him do what he’s been trained to do. Instead, he gives me an approving nod. Together, we charge toward the man. His eyes widen as soon as he sees my flames. Dante retrieves his cane from the ground, making the man cringe back.

I already know it will be too easy. He’ll be begging to make a confession before we lay so much as a hand on him.

Good.

He should fear us.

Alone, Dante and I are frightful enough. But together…

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