Page 90 of Fragile Oath

“Speaking of jewelry you won’t take off… I notice that you don’t wear your bracelet anymore.”

Galina froze in the middle of lovingly tracing the designs of her ring, her eyes sliding up to meet mine.

“I don’t like the reminders it brings.” Her tone was final, but I couldn’t help pressing a little further.

“The bracelet, or just one charm?” I prodded.

She swallowed, making a visible effort to force herself not to shut me down.

“Just one,” she confirmed tightly.

I nodded, hesitating before offering, “You know, we do have a jeweler here.”

She arched an eyebrow, though her eyes were still shadowed. “Of course you do. An entire jeweler devoted to Lithlinglau, and still, you stuck me with that ring.”

“It would have crushed Blaine to tell him no after he chose it with such care.” I moved closer to her, pulling her against me and pressing my lips against her temple. “But, if you were willing, we could remove that charm. Have it melted down. Perhaps replace it with something more to your liking.”

Something like a dragon, for my house sigil, as was custom in Socair.

She peeked up at me through her lashes. “The ring isn’t enough for you? You want me to wear a charm of yours, too.”

“Oh, I won’t stop there, Love. I plan on covering every inch of your body with the jewels of Lithlinglau. Tattooing my name on your skin.” I moved my mouth along said skin while I spoke, and she gave a shiver that belied her feelings on the matter, even if she shook her head.

“In seriousness,” I said, “we can get the charm removed so you can wear the bracelet again.”

She let out a low breath, her fingers running over the skin on her wrist. Her lips parted, then closed before she finally nodded.

“I would like that. Taking the charm off. And replacing it,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing.

“Don’t worry,” I told her in a soft growl. “I’ll have you tattooed on my skin as well.”

Galina’s lips parted, her eyes blazing. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Consequently, we were late to breakfast.

ChapterThirty-Nine

GALINA

By the timewe left Davin’s rooms, we had missed breakfast and made it to the dining hall with just enough time to endure an awkward court luncheon.

Laird Camdyn narrowed his eyes as we approached the seats that were reserved for us, something like confusion furrowing his brow as he studied us.

Fiona also watched us closely, our presence clearly more interesting than the conversation she had just been having with Gracie. Her hawk-like gaze homed in on every single detail between us — from the way Davin helped me into my chair to the casual way his hand brushed against my arm, and down to the delicate golden band with the ruby in the center that was finally back on my finger where it belonged.

“How interesting,” Fiona said, arching a perfectly sculpted eyebrow. Her full lips pulled upward into what was a careful line between a smile and a sneer. “It would seem you finally found your ring.”

Gracie looked sharply at her, features tight.

Fortunately, I was saved from having to respond when Davin took my hand in his, making a show of examining both my finger and the jewelry.

“It would seem she has,” he said before placing a kiss on my knuckles. “I think it suits her better than the other, though I know how much she loves my grandmother’s ring.”

It was an effort not to laugh outright as he met my eyes, adding, “We’ll have to save that one for special occasions, I suppose.”

“Like funerals,” I replied under my breath so only Davin could hear.

“That is excellent news,” MacBay’s voice carried across the table, his tone carefully devoid of emotion. What little conversation had continued through the room was gone now, everyone’s rapt attention on our table at the head of the room. “Wouldn’t you agree, Lady Shaw?”

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