NA

y of being Jace's wife before another

easy, but standing face-to-face with Vanya, the woman Jace

red in the air l

o take back

tightening like he was anchoring me to him. But

an object to be claimed." My voice was c

her head-calculating, like a predator playing with its prey. "That'

sharply. "En

for any sign of hesitation, but all

d my stomach twisted. "You may have married her, but we both

e snatched her wrist away. His voice d

s woman didn't pose a threat, but something in the way she

didn't waver as he spoke

but there was something unsettling

g on her heel. But before she left, she gave me one la

rt pounding, knowing o

I had the sinking feeling that Va

. My heart was still racing, my skin still crawling from the way she

rled into fists. I had never seen him so tense, no

lways one step ahead. But thi

o me. His voice was softer now, the sharp edges dulled by

ending I wasn't as rattled

"That doesn't

pped around my waist, pulling me against him. "You're my wife, Anna. No one-not m

ead against his chest, feeling the

rst time in my lif

ent of fresh espresso and the soft hu

the rim of his cup, his eyes locked on mine with an

e finally enjoying yo

"For the first time in a

-Vanya, the threats, the tension linger

few hours, Jace had pul

where he bought me things before I could refuse, tasting different kinds of gelato,

humb against my knuckles. His touch was ground

ured. "No one-especially not Vanya-gets

joined hands. "Jace... I don't want

ou don't understand. I left

the cracks in the polished life he came fro

reason you lose your mother

was the one who let me go." His grip on my hand tightened

ding through my chest. I was

so tightly, letting myself believe, if onl

a, the warmth of the evening lingering on my ski

ks, Jace and I had stolen

lked through the door

ing where they laced with mine. I followed hi

nder sat in o

e porcelain cup in her hands. But her prese

ed and U

me look she'd given me the first tim

difference. A quiet b

oing here?" His voice was steady, but I could fe

rely acknowledged her son's words before s

first?" Her tone was deceptively smooth. "Must a

ip on my hand tightening.

briefly before returning t

my throat. I had expected nothing less from

red step forward, his stance tense. "The

one might examine something disappointing. "I

lence was

ectly good engagement for... this." She waved a dismissive hand in my dire

nou

hrough the air like a

dropped in

ked in, Luciana's carefully comp

y wife," Jace continued, his voice

rned, not given. And from where

could register it. No

o

hen he spoke, his next words

re meant

e ups

ps parted sli

" he cut in, not even sparing her

p breath, but Jace di

t led m

ooking

either

*

is shirt, rolling them up his forearms. I stood

ver seen you walk away from your

e, raking a hand through his

"She's still yo

o." He turned then, pinning me with that gaze-the one that always m

arm flickere

ever chosen

anding up for me. He

She'll keep try

darkened.

strand of hair behind my ear.

get to decid

me harder than

he had never sa

had never let mys

, with the weight of his hand resting

d