Page 23 of Scorpio (The Zodiac Queen 8)

He pulls away with a reluctant groan. “You said he’s giving us a weekend?”

“Yes.”

“What do you have to do in exchange for this weekend?”

I lower my eyes. “Nothing too bad.”

“But you have to do something, right?”

“He wants me to go on a date with him.”

“A date?” His tone is as questionable as I feel about Ford’s bargain.

“He wants to show me off to a friend of his. They have what he called a competitive friendship.”

“Are you allowed to say no?”

“He said I can.”

“Then tell him no, princess. One weekend isn’t worth the trade-off. We have our entire lives ahead of us.” He grips my face between his warm hands. “I’m going to love the shit out of you for the rest of my life. Don’t let the Brotherhood take more than you’ve already given. Not for one weekend.”

“I need this weekend with you.” My eyes sting with desperation. “If I’ve given enough already, then let me have this. Please.”

He presses his lips against my forehead. “I hate this.”

“Me too,” I breathe, closing my eyes as his heat surrounds me. “But Ford isn’t so bad. Maybe it’ll be fun.”

“You barely know him.”

“I know him as well as I can. So far, he’s been one of the better ones.”

Sebastian rests his chin on the top of my head. “He’s a party monster.”

“I’ll take that over the sadistic variety.”

“Just think about it before you make a decision, okay?”

“I already told him yes.”

“Novalee.” Sebastian sighs. “Don’t do this for me.”

“I’m doing it for me.” Now it’s my turn to grab his scruffy cheeks. “What happened at the ball was for him and everyone else in that room. This so-called date is for us and no one else. He’s not forcing me, Sebastian.”

“I can’t stand the thought of you with anyone but me.”

“We don’t live in that reality,” I point out, refusing to back down. “Above all else, I’ve learned that fighting the inevitable gets me nowhere. I want you, but whether I like it or not, I have to accept all twelve of you.”

“No, baby. Don’t you dare give up. Change doesn’t happen without fighting like hell. And trust me when I say that change is coming.”

My hands fall from his cheeks. “What do mean?”

“Landon has a plan.”

“What kind of plan?”

He shakes his head. “I’ve already said too much.”

I narrow my eyes. “You’re keeping secrets from me?”

---