Page 49 of Married By Treachery

Raquel considered him. “It’s more than that.”

He eyed her, one brow raised. “What is it about you that persists in seeing more where there is none?”

“There is more. That’s why you drown yourself in wine—to numb all the feelings you say you don’t have.”

Jake’s gaze narrowed and slid back to the trees. “You really need to—”

“You say life’s a game.” She cut him off. “That it’s simply a series of wins and losses, but I don’t believe you. Not for a second.”

“That is your burden. Not mine.”

“Fair,” she clipped. “I imagine it’s difficult to carry one more burden when you’re already carrying the loss of tens of thousands.”

Jake’s arm flinched, his jaw flexed, and his gaze snapped right back to her, where it burned. Raquel didn’t know what had prompted her to poke and prod at the open wounds Jake fought so desperately to hide—open wounds he refused to admit were even there—but she was angry and tired, and she was so tired of playing his little games.

Especially when it came to her heart.

“Careful, my bride,” Jake warned, that kith wildness in his eyes. “You speak of things you do not know.”

“Then tell me.”

His expression shifted—softened, almost, as his gaze drifted to her lips, and then he said, “Has anyone ever mentioned that you are beautiful when you’re angry?”

“This isn’t a game, Jake!”

He smiled viciously and leaned in close. His breath brushed her cheek, and his arm tightened possessively around her waist. “Isn’t it?”

“I do not play games with hearts,” Raquel said through her teeth. “And I will not let you play games with mine.”

He looked at her as she looked at him, that invisible war between them. That clash of intent.

Jake frowned. “Pity,” he said at last, and then he looked ahead, loosened his grip, and leaned away from her.

And Raquel felt a hot spark of anger. “That’s it, then? I really am just a game for you? You’re really that callous and unfeeling?”

“No heart, remember?” he said, tone dry. “In fact,you’rethe one who accused me of it.”

“Well, I’ve changed my mind.”

Jake laughed.

Raquel didn’t appreciate it, and it only made her more persistent. “Iknowyou have a heart.”

“Do you, now? How convenient…”

It was an overwhelming surge of anger and defensiveness that prompted her to say, “I saw your heart. In my dreams.”

As soon as the words left her lips, Raquel couldn’t believe she’d admitted it. The only ones who knew about her dreams were Lee and her father. She’d been too afraid to tell anyone else, and they certainly hadn’t wanted the elders to know. No telling how they might have used her. But now that she’d said the words, Raquel suddenly found herselfwantingto tell Jake. To see if her dreams would strike a chord within him and unearth the Jake that Dream Raquel wanted so badly to be real.

“You dreamed about me, my bride?” Jake drawled.

“I dreamed of the stag,” she continued slowly. “Exactly as it was, but Banon was not there. It was just you.”

Jake snorted. “And I suppose next you’ll tell me how you saw me riding with you through this forest—”

“I saw your brother, too. I saw him cut a switch and whip you with it—he was so much bigger than you when you were little—and then I saw you run into the woods, tending to all the animals that he abused for sport…”

Jake had drawn Vizzi to an abrupt halt.

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