a P

other and true fiancé, was everything Grayson was not: calm, honorable, and openly

and finance. He explained the betrothal, a tradition of uniting powerfu

ng," Jace explained one evening, as we sat overlooking

is was your mother's. She wrote in it every day

onging and regret tightening my chest. A family,

of belonging. The nightmares still came, flashes of the cartel, of Grayson's

ue love and respect looked like. He listened patiently as I recounted fr

ever judged. Only of

Anya," he said, holding my hand. "Your

last threads of Grayson's twisted ideology.

rand piano in a forgotten conservatory. My fingers, accustomed to

th a powerful, unburdened freedom. It was a

tling me. He had been listening outs

keep me hidden, safe, unnoticed. "He sai

ent like yours deserves to

a genuine desire to truly e

es healing under Jace' s care and the island' s tranquility. My emotional

ng the joy of movement, unburdened by th

ziness hit me. My stomach churned. I dismissed

ied by a strange aversion to certain

ed. He insisted I see the f

yes, performed a thorough examination. Her s

said, "you'r

air, echoing in the

ght comfort in Grayson's arms, under the influence of sedatives and raw e

could be Jace's. The timel

eace. A baby. A tangible link to the p

his face expectant.

yes, eyes that had seen me at my lowes

introduce such a complex, painfu

fear. Fear of the truth. Fear of hurting Jace

my stomach, a different kind o

t, sensing the unspoken tens

k in my throat. I had to te

is healthy love,

embling slightly. "There's s

tter how painful