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But he hurt me.
I took a deep breath. “You’re engaged.”
He shook his head. “There’s no formal agreement, and that’s not an answer. You didn’t respond to me once. Why?”
I had kissed him so sweetly, and he had given me so many precious moments. When I looked at him, I still saw a glimpse of a happy future. But was that future real and viable?
Suddenly, memory transported me back to that balcony where Isaac had retreated like a wounded dog. The one who had come for me was Antonio. When I had watched him in the tournament, he seemed like the kind of person who would fight someone for me. And he had.
The young man assigned to be my mentor was arrogant, cold, quiet.
But he was loyal.
Maybe it was because the ghost of his scent was still floating around me, but I had my answer. The words came easily.
“Because… you let someone try to ruin me,” I said simply. “Call me soft, but I can’t live like this. Deep down, you resent me for everything, for working with Antonio, for being a favorite. You love my gold skin only because its glow makes you shine brighter.”
I took a deep breath, but the room spun all around me. All of this felt like an admission. Did it sound like that?
Isaac nodded thoughtfully after watching my internal conflict, and let out a heavy sigh. He stepped forward, close enough to whisper in my ear. “I already told my mother I want to marry you. I believe she’s already put in an appeal to the Marriage Council.”
My mouth fell open. “What about Liliana?” He had never said anything like this to me. A part of me felt trapped, and another part of me felt confused. After all, this had been what I wanted. He wanted to marry me, and marriage meant a future.
“Who?” he murmured in my ear. “I didn’t choose her as my bride.”
That put his fickle attitude in perspective.
His breath tickled my collarbone when he leaned in and said, “I made this for you.” His arms reached around me at the same time a small tinkling sound filled my ears and cold metal wrapped around my throat.
I gasped lightly, and reached up to touch it. It was a small, heart-shaped necklace with a red gem set in the middle.
“Isaac, what is this?”
Isaac was close enough that I couldn’t see his face, instead, I was looking over his shoulder. Music had started again. One hand slid to my waist, and the other grazed the back of my hand.
He wanted to dance. The music was slow and sad, not unlike my partner.
“That stone was made with my blood,” he whispered.
I stiffened. “What?” The urge to tear it from my neck was increasing.
“Let it be my first gift to you, my intention for our future,” he murmured as his hand slid lower, to the top of the curve of my backside.
His first gift? What about the docufone? I studied the memory closely, searching for the moment when Isaac had told me he’d sent it. But… he hadn’t. He must’ve seen me using it, and commented on it.
If he would’ve been the one to send it, I have no doubt he would have already put his contact inside.
Dread curled low in my belly. I had chosen Isaac because of that moment.
I wanted to leave. This felt nothing like what I had felt moments before while dancing with Antonio. Obligation and rationality kept me in place, swaying slowly with Isaac. His mouth still hovered right above my ear.
“If you want me to fight the world, I’ll step into the ring. You’ll belong to me, but I will belong to you, too. I promise that I can be better,” he whispered. His breath was hot in my hair.
I let out a long breath and looked up. Antonio had asked me to meet him, but could I still go after everything Isaac had said? My skin tingled from someone’s gaze. I glanced around, only to find Antonio staring at me from the base of the stairs.
The docufone had come while we were at his estate. What had he told me after the endurance test on the mountain? Nearly the same thing that was in the note.
He wanted me. Antonio Armando Castillas Morales wanted me.
