Page 57 of Heir of Darkness

“Why does that matter?” he asked, leaning back in his seat. “I would have told you eventually.”

“If something happened to it, like if I lost it or damaged it in some way—” She shook her head. “Is this the only thing you have left from her?”

“It is the only thing I have left from her. That’s why it means so much to me and why I want you to have it. She would have wanted me to give it to you,” he said, grabbing her hand that held the box.

“But maybe you should hold on to it. I can get any other type of ring. Seriously, I don’t need this one,” she said quickly. “And I know this isn’t a romantic marriage, so maybe she wanted you to save it for someone you loved like that.”

“I don’t want you to have just any other ring,” Valerio told her. “And this isn’t just a contract. You know my feelings, and if she was still alive, she would have also understood my feelings for you. It has never felt like just a contract to me, Luna. I’ve never treated it as such, and I won’t start now.”

She had to look away, too intimidated by the intensity of his gaze. His authenticity and rawness made her uncomfortably vulnerable.

Quickly it was becoming more than just a contract—he already knew it, but it seemed like she was finally getting the memo.

He sighed. “Do you not like this one?”

“No!” she shouted, looking at him again. “I love it. I mean, look at it. It’s absolutely beautiful.”

“Then it is yours,” he said. He leaned closer to her. “You’re going to be my wife. This ring is just as much yours as it is mine.”

“Are you sure?” she asked again. “I won’t be offended if you decide to take it away.”

Valerio rolled his eyes, kissing her to shut her up. She responded, missing the feel of his lips against hers. It had only been a couple of days and already she was starving for him. He pulled away. “The ring was made for you,” he said. “There is no one else more worthy of wearing it.”

Luna let out a shuttered breath. “Okay, I’ll wear it.”

Valerio took the box, opened it carefully, and grabbed the ring. He set the box on the dashboard, grabbing her left hand in his own. Luna watched in a daze as he slid the ring onto her finger, the cold silver touching her feverish skin. It fit her perfectly, as if it truly was made for her hand.

Luna flexed her hand, feeling out the weight of the ring. She didn’t wear rings usually, so it was different. Not bad, just different.

She expected to feel transformed, different, dreadful, but she felt none of it. The butterflies still swarmed her stomach, but it was more about what the moment signified than anything else. She was officially an engaged woman—well, at least to anyone who now looked at her finger and could figure it out.

Valerio lifted her hand, pressing a kiss on the ring. He looked up at her, his eyes darker than before. She saw that same possession swirl in his eyes from before, only this time he had something physical claiming her as his.

“Perfect,” he muttered. “Absolutely perfect.”

A chill erupted up Luna’s spine. One moment she felt like she was losing her mind and then Valerio showed up and suddenly she was completely calm. It made no sense to her.

A knock on the car window was the only thing that took them both out of their daze.

Valerio rolled down the window, allowing Dante to lean in casually. “What are you lovebirds up to?”

“What the fuck do you want, Dante?” he asked.

“I have class like everyone else on campus,” Dante said. He lifted his hand to wave at Luna. She rolled her eyes, waving back.

“Since when do you attend class?” Valerio asked.

“Speaking of class, I have to go,” she said, gathering her bag in her hand. Valerio turned off the car, pushing Dante away so he could open his door and walk with her. “You don’t have to walk me,” she said, closing her door behind her. “Plus it stopped raining.”

He grabbed the umbrella from her hands, opening it and holding it over their heads while the light drizzling continued. “I have to head that way anyway.”

“You don’t have a bag or any books with you,” Luna said, her eyebrow raised.

“He keeps all his knowledge in that big ass head of his,” Dante said, laughing. It turned to a cough when Valerio smacked him in the stomach.

He grabbed her bag, holding it in one hand while he held the umbrella in the other. Luna walked close to him to avoid the drizzle of rain still falling. The stares from people on campusstartled her, but that was the effect Valerio had on people. He made them stop and look.

“Did you invite her yet?” Dante asked Valerio, walking beside the couple. “Or can I do it? I already called dibs on inviting the others.”

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