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“So to give you peace ofto swear an oath”

I licked ers tensed on my arm “An oath?” I whispered

He took ainst the tattoo over his heart I exhaled as his muscles flexed under my touch He arm, the skin much softer than I’d anticipated

“Born in blood, sworn in blood, I swear that I won’t try to steal your virginity or harht” His lips quirked and he nodded toward the cut on his arm “I already bled for you, so that seals it Born in blood Sworn in blood” He coveredat me expectantly

“Born in blood, sworn in blood,” I said softly He released my hand and I lowered it todeal Without another word, he extinguished the light and returned to his side of the bed

I listened to his rhyth that he wasn’t asleep I closed ht hit my face I tried to stretch but an arainst my back It took me a moment to remember where I was and what had happened yesterday and then I stiffened

“Good, you’re awake,” Luca said in a voice that was gruff with sleep

Realization hit me Luca My husband I was a married woman, but Luca had kept his proe I opened ripped my hip and he turned me on my back He was propped up on one elbow as his eyes took in e to be in bed with a h our bodies weren’t touching In the sunlight the scars on his skin were soht, but his muscles were just as impressive I wondered how they’d feel to the touch

He reached up and took a strand of ers I held my breath, but he released it after auntil my step-mother, my aunts and the other ather up the sheets and carry the roo for the fucking spectacle to begin”

A blush spread over ed, some of the coldness replaced by another emotion My eyes found the small cut on Luca’s ar

Luca nodded “My blood will give them what they want It’ll be the foundation of our story, but we’ll be expected to fill in the details I know I’ liar But will you be able to lie in everyone’s face, even your ht? Nobody can knohat happened It would ret of having sparedskills