Page 40 of Legacy

Maybe it was because Ozias had killed her mother, and I refused to subject her to a vile, despicable bastard.

Plus, I couldn’t chance leaving her alone with him, considering her performance at our wedding.

If my father deemed her a threat, it would be all too easy for him to slaughter her right in the home he’d stolen from her.

I couldn’t fathom the thought of losing Avra. We’d only just met.

We were beginning to understand each other. Still, it would be a long journey before I’d trust Avra. She had her agenda as I had mine.

She legitimized my hold of the Vitalis lands. Then again, they were hers and eventually our children’s.

That specifically was the one thing I could count on her to protect.

Ourfuture.

Given the opportunity, she’d kill Ozias but wouldn’t destroy the Xenos empire.

It was part of her master plan.

I couldn’t help but smirk.

Two predators under one roof—no wonder we fought and fucked so much.

For forty years, I’d resisted the idea of settling down. Now that I’d married Avra, I had no regrets.

“Where should we put these?” one of my soldiers asked as a group of them carried in crates.

I pointed to a corner near my desk. “Over there.”

After they finished, they waited for orders.

“Go help Avra,” I ordered, then asked, “Where is she?”

“Last I saw, she was in the kitchen, unpacking some boxes.”

I sighed. “Make sure someone helps her with the heavy ones. Even if she protests, do it.”

One frowned as if he wasn’t sure about following my orders. “We were given strict instructions to stay away until the Vitalis women gave instructions to come in.”

For the love of all that was holy. Avra had my own people scared of her. Why the fuck had I agreed to a house close enough for her sisters to visit every fucking day?

“I’ll go down and tell her myself.”

They nodded and left.

This morning, we started the process of packing and transporting our things. I half expected Avra to turn her nose up at the idea of handling the chore of moving herself, especially when we had people to take care of the task. But shescowled at the mere suggestion of someone else doing the work. I stepped aside once I saw her particularities regarding packing and labeling appropriately.

This slender, sexy woman was nothing like what I’d expected. She was the furthest thing from a lazy, entitled woman expecting my men to do the dirty work for her.

And that wasn’t the only way she surprised me.

Mostly, I couldn’t understand my deep, persistent attraction to her. It hadn’t faded yet, only increased by the moment.

I’d slept with many beautiful women. I’d dated plenty of socialites. Most of them were calm and understood social nuances and women’s roles. And not a single one held my attention the way Avra could.

Her attitude and take-charge nature made conversations much more enjoyable, even if I disagreed with her, which was most of the time. Plus, she possessed a fire and spirit I’d never realized I needed. Only a strong woman who took none of my shit could handle my darkness, and she’d done that since the moment I grabbed her throat at the wedding reception.

It was more than the sex.

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