Page 120 of Sadistic

He studies me for a long moment, then nods. "I believe you would."

Movement in the parking lot catches my eye.

Revna, stepping out for air.

Even from here, I can see the exhaustion in her posture, the weight she's carrying.

She's still in the clothes from this morning, hair pulled back messily.

My hands itch to hold her, to fix this, to make her understand.

"Give her time," Runes says, reading my mind. "She's processing. Tomorrow?—"

"Tomorrow she might not show up."

"She will." He sounds more certain than I feel. "That girl's many things, but she's not a runner. She'll be there, even if it's just to tell you off in front of everyone."

"That's reassuring."

His chuckle is dry. "You wanted a strong woman. They don't come easy."

My phone buzzes.

A text from Revna:

Tomorrow, we need to talk. Really talk. About everything.

My heart races just seeing her name on my screen.

I type back quickly:

Whatever you need. After the ceremony?

Her response takes several minutes:

If there is a ceremony.

The words are another blow, but at least she's talking to me.

I'll take uncertainty over silence.

"She's strong,"

I text back:

There will be. Even if I have to handle every threat in the entire world tonight.

She responds back within a couple of minutes:

Don't make promises you can't keep, Doran.

But I will keep it.

Whatever it takes, whoever I have to go through, tomorrow, Revna walks down that aisle.

Not because of the arrangement or the alliance, but because, despite everything, we belong together.

"I need to ask you something," I tell Runes. "Aboutyourfather."

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