Chapter 080

It could have been minutes later, or hours, when Lyra ’s eyes flew open in

the darkness. She realized she hadn’t just given her virginity to Viktor

tonight.

She’d given him her heart.

So this was how it was to fall in love. In all the books she’d read, all the

movies she’d seen, she’d dreamed and wondered how it would be. What it

would feel like, when she gave herself to a man completely.

It was like this. Overwhelming. Powerful. Sweet and full of longing. But

also...

Terrifying.

Because loving him was an astoundingly simple thing to do. She’d been

dazzled by him from the moment they’d met. Infatuated before they were

wed. But now...she was in love. Truly and deeply in love for the first time.

Lyra swallowed, slowly turning to look at the handsome face of the man

sleeping beside her. One side of his face was turned toward the silver

moonlight glowing softly through the white canvas. The other side of his

face was in shadow, dark and harsh.

And that was Viktor ’s soul. This was the man she’d given herself to—

body and heart. The man she loved had one side filled with light. This side

encouraged, protected, demanded, respected. He was strong and calm in a

crisis; he’d rushed to the side of the injured boy.

But Viktor ’s other half...was filled with darkness.

There are rumors about me, he’d said. That I am more than ruthless. That

I am half-insane, driven mad by my hunger for revenge.

But loving him changed everything. She no longer wished to escape him.

Or even to be his make-believe wife for a few weeks in a marriage of

convenience.

Lyra wanted to be his real wife. Always and forever. Complete with

children and the white picket fence.

But Prince Viktor Andreevich was not a white-picket-fence kind of man.

She turned her head, blinking back tears. Such a risk. Such a stupid risk.

She loved the good in him—the man he’d once been, the man he could be

again.

But the pain of past betrayals had warped his soul, turning him dark and

ruthless. Giving him reason to keep the world at a distance. Her heart

twisted in her chest.

Could she make him see that forgiving his brother wouldn’t be weakness,

but strength—freeing him for a new life? Could she show him that the

world could be so much more? She yearned to show him his life, his future,

had just begun.

Just as hers had...

With a low sigh, she nestled closer to him in bed. His eyes remained

closed, but his strong arms instinctively pulled her closer against the

warmth of his body.

It felt so protective, so good. Closing her eyes, she pressed her cheek

against his chest.

She would find a way. She yawned, safe and sleepy in his arms. Viktor

had changed her life.

For so long, Lyra had been afraid. Since she was twelve, Illyra had

protected her like a mother hen, not letting her take risks, warning her about

the evils of the world. Lyra had listened. After all, Illyra, older by six years,

was the smart one. The strong one. Lyra was the burden. The helpless,

hapless one. The one who, just by being born, had caused her mother to die.

What right did Lyra have to ask for anything at all? What right to speak her

mind, to make a fuss, to live her dreams?

But Viktor had changed her, completely and irrevocably. He’d forced

her to be who she really was inside. And shown her that living boldly was

the only way to honor the sacrifice her mother had made, and the life she’d

been given.

He’d done that for her. She yearned to do something for him. She wanted

to teach him that being vulnerable, that trusting others, could be his greatest

strength. Lyra snuggled deeper into his arms. She would help him break

free from the chains of anger and revenge....

Morning sunlight was bright against the white canvas of the tent when

Lyra opened her eyes. She sat up abruptly. She was alone amid the tangled

sheets of the bed. Much of the tent, too, was empty. She saw his packed

suitcase beside her own backpack at the door. Weird. Were they going

somewhere?

But where was Viktor ?

Viktor . Just his name was like a song in her heart. Rising from the bed,

she splashed fresh cool water on her face from the basin, then pulled on a

clean T-shirt, a cotton skirt and sandals from the wardrobe and went

outside.

Her heart pounded as she looked for him. She was going to tell him she

loved him. Now. Today. The instant she saw him.

But where was he? All of the servants in the encampment seemed to be

rushing around strangely, boxing up, packing. She wondered if they were

tidying up from the wind storm the night before. Maybe it had been a big

one. Not that Lyra had noticed. She’d been too distracted by the sensual

storm in their bed. A sweet smile lifted her lips. She started towards one of

the women, to ask if she’d seen Viktor . Then Lyra stopped.