Page 330 of Night's Fall
There were no laws that forced any female into a marriage.Andthere were demon females who refused the matches.Butif they did, they were usually excommunicated from their families.
Cat was a together female.
But he saw how close she was to her parents, he doubted she’d do anything to break ties with them.
Just as he doubtedMammonwould make anything but an excellent match for his daughter.
Even so, this was extreme, andAlekseididn’t condone it.
But she wasn’t his daughter.
“Oh my gods!”Lauraexclaimed. “Towho?”
“To who?Towho?”Catshouted, sendingNovascurrying right toAleksei.
He picked her up again asLaurasaid, “Yes, honey.Towho?”
“ToKingTanyn, that’s who!”Catyelled.
Well…
Shit.
Laura’s gaze darted to him, and he knew why.
She looked pleased and she didn’t want toCatto see.
Aleksei agreed.
So he smiled.
Slowly.
* * *
They sat on the buttoned velvet bench at the foot of their bed,Laurain his lap.
“It’s embarrassing.”
“It is not.”
“I wish he’d just sent you the one you liked.”
“I don’t want the oneIliked.Iwant the oneIlove.Thatone.”
Saying this,Alekseigave her a squeeze and tipped his head across the room to the painting resting there.
It was the oneCatbrought.
After the drama of her announcement (andTimhad addedCat’sselections to theirShape’sorder, andAlekseihad madeCata martini), they’d unwrapped it and read the note fromTerrinton.
With no salutation and no sign off, it said:
I’m keepingMarie.
But you’ll always haveLaura.
That was all it said.
