Theo led me to an out-of-the-way clearing by the river, walking far enough that we had a relative degree of privacy. Or maybe he was smart enough to know that I needed that time to rein my temper in.
When he finally came to a stop, it was me who spoke first.
“What aren’t you telling me?” My eyes didn’t leave his, dissecting his features for any signs that he was hiding something.
He swallowed, looking around before he finally spoke. “There is a way to remove you from the scrutiny and the power of the Summit.”
My mind reeled. “And I had to hear this from Lord Arseling because?”
“I was going to tell you—” he began before I cut him off.
“But you thought it was so much more fun to watch me squirm and dance for the Council?”
He huffed out an irritable breath. “No, I just—I didn’t want you to feel forced into anything.”
“Like death?” I suggested sarcastically.
“Like marriage.” He practically shouted the word, and I took a step back.
“What?” My voice was a sharp contrast to his, a whisper that was quickly swallowed up by the sound of the rushing river beside us.
“I told you before, Clan wives are protected.” He was calm again.
I blinked. “You want me to marry Iiro?” Would Inessa and I be sister-wives? Did they do that here?
Theo’s lip curled in disgust, and he shook his head. “Storms, Rowan. No. It applies to the heirs as well.”
Oh. “Oh.” That was all I could seem to say, suddenly feeling very foolish for reasons I couldn’t quite put my finger on.
Was this why he had brought up marriage before?
It was a way out of death, and I knew that I should grasp hold of it, but there were a hundred reasons for us not to get married. My breaths started coming faster, the trees of the clearing blurring around the edges until the crimson edged out the gold and orange and brown.
“This is why I didn’t tell you.” He sighed. “I know it isn’t what you want, and I didn’t think it would come up. It never occurred to me that they would actually vote against you. They wouldn’t have, if you had just done what we talked about and—”
“And what, exactly? Continued to stand by silently while they threatened every member of my family? I will never be that person, Theo.”
“Then you won’t survive here!” His voice rose before he visibly collected himself. “You won’t survive…this.” He gestured around us, defeat tugging his shoulders downward.
“Unless I’m a clan wife…” I responded quietly.
He nodded. My thoughts were a maelstrom. In a way, this would solve several issues at once. Hadn’t I asked for a marriage that benefited my kingdom? An alliance with Socair would certainly satisfy that requirement.
But, that was when I assumed it would be in Lochlann, where I could see my family any time I wanted to and nothing else seemed to matter.
Doing this meant I would stay here, in Socair, cut off from my family for half of the year. Alone, except for Theo.
Theo, who held me and kissed me and defended me and loved me.
It was all too much to process. “Can I think about this for a day?” I asked. “I know there isn’t much time left, but just until tomorrow.”
He nodded, a sharp dip of his head. “Of course.” But I didn’t miss the edge of hurt in his tone.
I hated myself for putting it there, but this was the rest of my life on the line.
Or the lack thereof.
