Page 126 of The Prince's Mage

Marcella, despite the heat burning her face, reached up and wrapped her hands around his. “Your people and mine would have been determined to make those assumptions regardless of your cloak or the engagement lilies in your pocket. I am honored that as your wife and promised, I get to wear it. Tomorrow and always.”

Gavril pulled her closer, tucking her into his side with one arm wrapped around her back while he laced his fingers through hers. He pressed a soft, lingering kiss to her lips before sighing and resting his head against hers.

“If this miracle of peace happens tomorrow, you will have to tell me what exactly your weddings entail that are somehow so completely different you were clueless as to what our first one was.”

Marcella snorted softly, her head tucked into his neck. “The obvious? There was no priest. No mention of Asentai. I knew very little of your language, and what I did I cannot be certain I was even translating accurately. For all I knew it was some ritual involving the heretics, given yours was standing right there. Our weddings do not happen on the side of the road. They happen in temple sanctuaries, with priests, and Asentai’s blessings over the union.”

“If you think the only way to get married is with a priest, how did you think my people got married when we do not have them?”

“I didn’t give much thought to it. Your people are not faithful to Asentai; why should I presume you would be faithful to each other in such a manner?”

“Being a faithful husband is a different matter than being a faithful believer. But fortunately for you, or maybe thanks to you, I am now both,” Gavril said, his hand squeezing hers.

She smiled against his skin. “I am quite thankful for that, and for everything you are.”

Gavril hummed and they fell into a soft, companionable silence.

Unfortunately the warmth and security she felt in her husband’s arms were not enough to completely hold her anxieties about the following day at bay.

“Tomorrow is the day,” she whispered. “Do you think it’s possible for Nikias to hate me more because of this or was I already at the highest level of his hatred?”

“He can try to blame you but he knows this was all my doing. I imagine he will be having words with me the second he gets his hands on me. I will not let him blame you,” Gavril muttered.

“Oh, he will,” Marcella muttered, remembering vividly Hypatia’s demeanor while reading Nikias’ message—she’d never really noticed how strange it was to watch someone who looked so much like her move through life so differently. The delight in Hypatia’s eyes at all of it, she knew would haunt her every time she ever saw her own reflection again.

“And I cannot blame him for it,” Marcella whispered.

They were forcing Nikias to face the woman who killed his wife to keep her from doing the same to his brother.

They had a long day ahead. The only comfort she had was that at least they were going to face it together. No matter how horrifying.

It was war. None of them were innocent.

Chapter46

MARCELLA

When Konstantin had finally come to retrieve her when the moon was high in the sky, he’d taken one look at her in Gavril’s cloak and laughed. He walked her back to her tent, ensuring they didn’t encounter Hypatia on the way. They didn’t encounter anyone really as the camp was all asleep except for the patrols, and Konstantin seemed to lead them through the camp in perfect timing to when they weren’t in those sections. Probably to keep from running into any Desero mages who would report back to Hypatia that they’d been seen.

He said, “I knew you were brave the moment I heard of the decoy scheme. I just didn’t realize how much until now. She will be furious.”

Marcella brushed her fingers over the clasp bearing Gavril’s name. She shook her head. “I wasn’t brave for my role in the ambush. Just obedient. If I was brave, I would have stood up to Hypatia. Even if it was futile.”

“I think there is more than one kind of bravery, little sister. To follow orders knowing the cost to yourself—regardless of how wholly unworthy the one giving them might be of your loyalty—it’s not an easy thing. To survive the things you have…” Konstantin’s eyes darted over her, never quite landing on where the scars actually were. “To choose life and love in spite of it…That is bravery. To be willing to defy the one you were so loyal to… the woman you went to die for, that is possibly the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.”

He thought she was brave?

“You think one day she will kill you. But, still you’re defying her. I think that is brave,” Marcella said as they came to a stop in front of her tent.

“I’m her husband. I should have been the first to defy her.” Konstantin shook his head with a wry smile. “Maybe I just find you and your promised’s bravery inspiring. While this was part of a bigger scheme, I will say, I am honored to be able to call you sister. Regardless of what you and your promised do after this, even if I should never see you again, that will be true.”

Marcella looked up at him, and her heart twisted a little. They were far more alike than she’d imagined, considering the vast differences in their stations.

He hid it well.

How lonely he was.

But Marcella had known loneliness well enough to spot it in someone else.

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