“Untrue.” I looked at the most beautiful woman in the world, a woman who cared about people she shouldn’t, saw the good in the evil. That made her a saint in my opinion.
She sniffled again. “She doesn’t understand how I can feel anything for you.”
“It’s not her business to understand it.”
“I try to explain it to her, but it doesn’t come out right.”
Coming between us. Again.
“And the way she looks at me…it just makes me feel so terrible.”
“Hypocritical.”
“She said Magnus is different.”
He was different—but not that different. “He can leave the business any time he chooses. He voices his disagreements, but he doesn’t put his money where his mouth is. So, no, fucking hypocritical.”
“She said you’re a monster…”
“I am a monster.” That was one thing we could agree on.
She stared at me for a long time, her eyes still a little wet because the tears hadn’t dried. “I told her that you’re more than what you seem. I told her that you’ll let her go. I told her that you would release all those girls.” Her hand moved to mine, and she squeezed it. “And I believe that so deeply…”
We hadn’t revisited this topic since our last fight, and I didn’t want to have this conversation again, let alone right now. My instinct was to pull away and leave her there by herself, to grow angry at her choice of words, but my need for her was greater than my anger. It would always be greater than my anger. Never again would I let my temper separate us. Never again would I let anything divide us. “Let’s get back to the party.” I rose to my feet, pulling on her hand to get her to join me.
She stayed seated, looking up at me. “I believe it with all my heart.”
At the end of the night, everyone left. The staff was left to clean up while we went upstairs to bed. She’d composed herself and chatted with my guests like nothing was wrong. It seemed to be forgotten—until we went to bed.
She let the gown slide off her body, but with a melancholy gaze. Her shoes were kicked off, and then she went to the bed, sitting on the edge and looking out the window.
I stared at her back as I got my clothes off, annoyed that Raven was still in her head.
The only person who should be in her head was me.
Stripped down to my boxers, I sat beside her. “Forget about it.”
She slowly turned her head to look at me, and the surprised look on her face suggested her mind was somewhere else. “Raven left abruptly, and I’m not sure why. I hope she’s okay. Hope it wasn’t because of me.”
It was probably because of Stasia, but I didn’t tell her that. “Don’t worry about her.”
“Hard not to. She’s my sister.”
The annoyance sank in my skin like a sharp knife puncturing my flesh. That woman would always be the bane of my existence. She would always be in the room with us. Her words would always haunt Melanie with their endless echoes. “Magnus will give her what she needs. Just as I give you what you need.”
That seemed to provide her comfort because she gave a slight nod. “Yeah…you’re probably right.”
Magnus and I met with Napoleon to begin the distribution process.
Then Magnus voiced all his concerns—for the millionth time.
I ignored him.
He came to the palace, joining me outside by the pool. Gilbert brought us scotch and a cheese board. Everything was on the table, and our chairs were turned to the pool, the sun setting but light still in the sky.
Melanie was swimming in the pool, far away and unable to hear us. She was in a revealing bikini with her hair and makeup done, looking like an angel without wings. It was hard for me to take my eyes off her—like always.
Magnus stared at the pool for a long time, his glass in one hand. “How’s the new butler?”
I shrugged.
“The palace looks the same.”
“Most of the blood was on the third floor.” I turned to him. “You took care of Jeremy?”
He nodded. “Last week.”
I would have done the dirty work myself, but hunting him down wasn’t a good utilization of my time, not when it would take me away from Melanie.
“I’m sorry about Gilbert.”
I looked at my brother again.
“He worked for you for a long time.”
It’d been a couple weeks since he passed away, but it was still hard to think about. He had been the closest thing to family that I had besides Magnus. He was loyal—always. I knew the reason he died was because of his feelings for me. If they hadn’t been a factor, he would have made the pragmatic decision to save his own ass. His feelings never bothered me, but now I wondered if I should have let him go once he had issues with Melanie. It obviously had had an effect on his work. And he’d still be alive.