Chapter 3

A heavy padlock hung on the dressing room door. Across the frame ran a numbered tamper seal, signed in Delphine's neat hand.

Cassian stopped dead, his hand still wrapped around mine.

He clearly hadn't expected to see Delphine's mark on his own wife's dressing room.

"What is this?"

I answered calmly. "Delphine says the Donna's gowns and jewelry are Family property, so I can't handle them freely. Whenever I need into the dressing room, I submit a request. She approves it, the lock comes off. Once I've taken what I need, she puts a new one on."

Cassian's frown deepened.

For a moment, a faint, foolish hope flickered in my chest. Maybe seeing it with his own eyes would finally make him understand what my life had been like all these years.

I used to be the youngest Arbiter in the history of the Concordat. At seventeen, I was presiding over settlements between Families on my own. Bosses from across the country stood when I entered the room. Cassian chased me for three full years. He stood outside Halcyon Hall in a blizzard for seven nights straight. He walked through Widow's Gap on foot just to bring me a single Frostline rose.

He said that once I was his wife, I would never have to sit in that cold hall again. He said he'd make me the most respected woman in the Vasari Family. He said he loved me.

I believed him.

For him, I took off my Arbiter's robes. I swore my way out of the Concordat, put on his ring, and took his name.

Seven years later, I couldn't even choose my own clothes.

Cassian stared at the lock in silence for a long time.

That tiny ember in my chest, the one I should have let die years ago, wavered with every second of his silence.

Then he looked away.

"Delphine is strict, I'll give you that."

I watched him and waited.

Cassian sighed, almost helplessly.

"But she's doing it for your own good."

The ember died.

"You spent years at Halcyon Hall. You don't know how the Family does things. One mistake and we all lose face." He gripped my arms and looked down at me. "Delphine keeps these things locked up because she's afraid you'll slip."

I couldn't help asking, "So she locked up my dressing room because I'm incompetent?"

"That's not what I said."

Impatience flashed across his face, but he kept his voice gentle.

"Why does everything have to be a drama with you? They're a few dresses and some jewelry. If you want something, just ask Delphine."

I let out a quiet laugh.

That was exactly what I'd done for seven years.

Before the Gala, I'd submit my gown request two weeks ahead. She'd approve it the night before. For the peace summit with the neighboring Families, she locked the jewelry case over a color mismatch, and the maids scrambled to find me a plain wooden hair clip. The other wives whispered about how shabby I looked. Cassian scolded me in front of everyone for not caring about the Vasari name.

I had explained it to him countless times.

He never believed me.

Even now, with the proof right in front of him, he was still finding excuses for her.

It wasn't that the truth was unclear.

It was that I was the one getting hurt.

Cassian saw I wasn't speaking and took it as acceptance.

He pulled out a dark wooden box and opened it to reveal a pearl necklace.

"Stop sulking." He lifted the strand, his voice softening. "You've been good lately. I bought this just for you. Let me put it on you."

He stepped behind me to fasten it.

I moved half a step away without thinking.

His hand stopped in midair. Surprise flickered in his eyes.

"What, you don't like it?"

"It's beautiful," I said. "I'm just tired."

Cassian studied my pale face and finally let it go. He put the necklace back in its box, like he was doing me a huge favor.

"Fine. We'll do it tomorrow. I'll have this seal cut off tonight. From now on, the dressing room is yours to manage. And I'll have Delphine hand your authority back to you, a little at a time."

He patted my hair, smiling with satisfaction.

"As long as you stay as obedient as you were today, I'll give back everything that belongs to the Donna."

I nodded meekly. "Okay."

Cassian pulled me into his arms. "The moon is beautiful tonight. Why don't we have a drink?"

My gaze slid past his shoulder to the moon outside the window.

Soon. One hour left.

"Okay," I said. "Actually, there's something I want to tell you, too."