Page 52 of Depths of Desire
Curses are all about hair-splitting,I counter. Sisters -in-law don’t count. Luna is not a sister, but Mia and Pippa are. They’re sisters by blood. Our blood. It runs in both their veins.
The silence that follows is deafening. I can sense shock from Luca and Renzo, but not from my father.
You knew,I say to my father.
Yes,he answers without hesitation.
So much more I could say—but I don’t want to say it in front of my brothers. There will be time later, after all this. My father has kept many secrets over the years. It will soon be time for many of those to come out.
There’s no doubt in my mind,my father says.Pippa and Mia are considered sisters in the eyes of the prophecy. Because you three saved them. You put your blood into their veins. That’s why I advised against marriage in the first place.
But Luna isn’t one of them,I argue.Just because I marry her doesn’t make her the third sister.
The issue,he says gravely,is whether you can promise—under no circumstances—to put your blood in her veins.Because the moment you do that, she becomes the third sister. And the prophecy comes true.
I want to promise. I want to say it loud and clear—yes, of course.
But the truth is, I’m not sure I can make that promise. Not really. Not now. The moment we had sex something shifted. A seismic event. I feel linked to Luna in ways I don’t understand, and it’s only grown stronger. I know I cannot promise I won’t do everything to save her.
Renzo cuts in.Then we won’t do it. It’s fine. Honestly, I don’t see that we have much of a choice. Nico needs to marry her. It’s the only way we stand a chance against Malrick. And you know if he’s making a move on us, others will follow. We need to stop this now.
Fine,my father says, the word clipped.Nico will marry Luna. But be very, very careful.
I will,I say, though my stomach churns.But what else can we do?
We could kill Malrick,Luca suggests dryly.
I grin.I like that idea. It would certainly help.
My father doesn’t share our mirth.At this moment, I imagine he’s well protected.
Renzo saysI’ll have my people keep an eye on him. See if there’s an opening.
Kael is already doing the same thing,”I add.
Excellent,my father states.Everyone stay in touch.
Renzo breaks the connection, followed by Luca. My father lingers.
Nico,he says, his voice low.
Yes?
You must be very, very careful.
I know.
I hesitate.
What is it?my father asks.
I’ve always believed that we control our own fate. That we could change our future. I am starting to believe that belief has been a fantasy.
My father sighs.I, too, want to believe that we can change things. I have lived my life that way, but the truth is, son, I’m not so sure either. There is something at play here, something that is outside of our control. We must be very careful now. Curses are all in the details.
I’ll do my best, Father.
Fine. Then marry Luna. Get this taken care of immediately.
