Page 67 of Of Oaths and Secrets

She glances down at Fate, gently stroking her fur. “It’s… well, it might sound a little silly, but this life we live—especially for women—is so restrictive. And we all have limitations, don’t we? Reading was my way of experiencing the world, of escaping beyond those limits. Since I was a little girl, books were my window to everything—adventures, emotions, places I couldn’t go. It was like magic.”

She laughs softly, but there’s a hint of vulnerability in it. “I guess that sounds silly, doesn’t it?”

“Actually, it doesn’t.” I pause, looking at her, understanding more now. “It’s the best reason there could be. Through stories, you’ve lived countless lives—each one offering a new world, a new beginning.” My voice is quieter than I expected, laced with an unfamiliar longing. Is that why I’ve always been drawn to books too? Have I been trying to escape the confines of my own life?

She smiles at my words, her eyes soft. “Look at us, being the same,” she jokes, but then her smile fades slightly. She watches me closely. “You look tired again,” she says, her voice gentle with concern.

I hesitate for a moment, but something inside me shifts. I trust her. More than anyone. “I am tired,” I admit. “Leo messed up—again.”

Her brow furrows, and I continue. “He got himself mixed up with people he never should have been involved with. It wasn’t his idea—someone else put the thought in his head—but he went along with it, and he won’t tell me who. I made him clean up this time and make the bodies disappear. But I fear I pushed him too far.”

She listens carefully, her expression thoughtful, not judgmental. That’s one of the things I love about her—she doesn’t flinch or shy away, even when I lay out the worst parts of my life.

“You’re worried your father will look too much into it, aren’t you?” she asks, her voice gentle but knowing.

I nod. “I am. If he digs deeper, this could spiral out of control.”

She tilts her head thoughtfully. “Then create a diversion. You know him better than anyone—find something that’ll draw his attention somewhere else, something he’ll be more interested in. Give him a problem he can’t resist solving.”

Her insight hits me hard, and I’m struck, not for the first time, by just how clever she is.

“I can give him something else to focus on.”

She smiles softly, but there’s a glint of pride in her eyes. “Good. You’ve got this, Rafaele.”

I lean back, still holding her foot, my thumb brushing the soft skin. “I knew you were smart, but…” I shake my head, smiling. “You’re more than just clever. You’re cunning.”

Her smile widens, and she gives a little laugh. “I just want to help.”

“And you do,” I say, my voice lowering as I watch her closely. “More than you know.”

I pause, then add, “Speaking of helping… I have a surprise for you. I got us premium seats forLa Bohèmethis Friday.”

Her face lights up instantly, and she throws her arms around me. “You’re serious? That’s amazing!”

I smile, pulling her close. “It’s for you. You deserve it.”

She pulls back just enough to kiss me, soft and tender at first but quickly deepening, becoming more heated. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her even closer, the warmth between us growing. But then she winces, just slightly.

I stop immediately. “Are you in pain?”

She shakes her head, giving me a reassuring smile. “I think I just pulled a muscle. It’s fine.”

I narrow my eyes, concerned. “You sure?”

She yawns softly, waving it off. “Really, it’s nothing. Just tired.”

I kiss her forehead gently. “Alright. Go to bed. I’ll be up soon.”

She nods, standing up slowly. As I watch her go, a quiet sense of awe fills me. She’s so much more than I expected, and every day, I find myself more drawn to her.

It’s becoming more than just affection. I’ve never craved someone the way I crave her—not just her body, but her mind, her insight. She’s not just a wife; she’s my equal. My queen.

When the door closes behind her, I lean back on the sofa, letting the silence settle around me. The library feels incomplete without her. It’s like she’s woven into the very air I breathe, making every space she leaves behind feel a little emptier.

I smile to myself, thinking about how excited she was for the opera. Friday can’t come fast enough.

But then, the smile fades as I remember the way she winced earlier. She brushed it off, but I can’t ignore the nagging worry. She’s too strong, too proud to show weakness, and I know she’s hiding something. I just hope, in time, she’ll trust me enough to let me in. I want to help her, just like she helps me—because now, I’m hers, just as much as she’s mine.

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