Page 253 of The Sins of Silas

I flexed my jaw. “What do you mean?”

“You two were behaving very…intimately.”

I stared into Vi’s eyes, then decided to hell with lying. “I am in love with her.”

Viola’s eyes bulged, a small gasp leaving her lips as we continued our dance. “What did you say?”

“I am in love with Lena.” I shrugged in defeat, sighing as I did so.

“Does…does Lena know?” she whispered. “Does she feel the same?”

“It is complicated,” I replied quietly.

“No kidding. Have you told Era?”

“She…” I ran my hand along my face, then wrapped it back around Viola’s waist. “She asked me just now about my feelings. I froze.” When I met Vi’s violet gaze and saw that her eyes were filled with compassion and not judgment, I decided to continue. “I don’t wish to hurt her. I care for her, too. Be she and I—”

“Aren’t a match in that way?”

Isupposed Viola did understand. I nodded.

Her lips turned upward. “Who would’ve guessed the Prince of Otacia would be confiding in me his relationship drama? That we’d be…”

“Friends?”

She failed at holding in a smile. “Yeah. Friends.”

I chuckled, twirling her around. “I certainly wouldn’t have believed it if you told me so months ago.”

She stared off while we swayed. “I can’t imagine an arranged marriage to someone you’d never met prior being wildly successful,” she continued. “And I suppose you can’t help who you catch feelings for.” Her eyes widened. “Wait…wait—”

“Yes, Lena is my Soul-Tie,” I whispered, and Viola blinked rapidly. “Apparently, your seer is the one who told her so, more or less.”

“That is why she saved you,” she breathed. I resisted the urge to cringe. It wasn’t a lie, just not the full story. “Why you helped save her…holy Gods.” She glanced over my shoulder, peeking at Edmund and Elowen, who were dancing a few feet away. “What are the odds?”

“Odds that make one believe the universe is on our side.”

To that, she beamed. “I am happy I was wrong about you, Silas.”

I returned the expression, my eyes trailing along the dance floor. My gaze caught on Dani, who was in their male form, a woman in his arms as they danced.

When I peeked back at Vi, she was staring at him. “What’s holding you back?” I asked.

“Hm?” she slowly broke her gaze.

I gave her a knowing look. “Aren’t you interested in Dani?”

Her eyes flared, her cheeks heating as she hissed, “No!”

I chuckled, twirling her around. “My apologies.”

I didn’t suppress my smile, and Viola sighed. “Fine. I have had…thoughts.”

I quirked a brow. “Oh?”

She squeezed my side. “Don’t say anything.”

“I wouldn’t dare. I rather like my head just as it is.”

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