Page 154 of You Only Love Twice
Gemma knew what they were doing, and was grateful for it. She swallowed the lump in her throat and found a faint smile.
Before her eyes, Malloryn put himself back together. He pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please. Stop."
"We're embarrassing him," Byrnes said, with an unrepentant grin. "This is the best thing I've seen all year. Are you blushing, Your Grace?"
"I amnotblushing." It came out as a growl.
"Youare."
"Carried me out of a burning building over his shoulder," Kincaid continued.
"Hauled Miss Gemma out of a frozen river in the middle of Saint Petersburg," Herbert added, with a coughedahem.
"The next person who opens their mouth will find themselves on desk duty for the rest of their lives," Malloryn said, in an icy voice.
The entire company clamped their mouths shut, but Kincaid and Byrnes snickered under their breaths.
The only one who didn't seem to have relaxed was Obsidian, who was watching the entire affair as if he'd just seen a dog give birth to a two-headed cat.
"You get used to them, sir," Herbert said politely, offering him a glass of blud-wein from the tray he'd brought up the stairs. "It's a little disconcerting at first, and the gentlemen tend to think they're endlessly amusing, but their hearts are in the right place."
Obsidian looked at her with an expression that said,just what have you gotten me into?And Gemma couldn't help giving into a soft laugh.
But he took the glass and examined the blud-wein dubiously. "Is there wine in my blood?"
"Enjoy it, Master Obsidian," Herbert called over his shoulder, moving to offer the rest of the company a glass. "It comes from Master Byrnes's private stock."
Byrnes swore, and then everyone was laughing, and Gemma couldn't help herself. She was so exhausted she burst out into a loud laugh that almost turned into a sob when Ava put her arm around her and rested her blonde head on Gemma's shoulder.
"I'm so glad you're back," Ava whispered. "Ingrid was two seconds away from storming the tower, and I was worried thebothof you would be locked up."
Malloryn overheard her and cleared his throat sharply, gaining everyone's attention. "As much as the jovial mood has lightened the situation, we need to start thinking about what happens next. As grateful as I am to see you alive, Gemma, you broke out of a highly secure prison after you appeared to be trying to assassinate the queen. You look guilty as sin, and I fear it's going to take all my best efforts to resolve this with the council."
The entire company sobered.
"What do we do?" Byrnes asked.
"Who do we have to kill?" Kincaid added promptly.
"It's simple. There's not a great deal any ofuscan do." Malloryn shifted his attention to Obsidian. "I told you once you had a decision to make. An alliance between the pair of us is the last thing I ever expected to be considering, but we have a mutual acquaintance in common whom we are both very fond of. And we are running out of time. The queen and council have listened to what I know about the neural implant, but I don't know enough. I can sense the uncertainty in some of them. I will not put Gemma's life in their hands with even a hint of doubt as to the outcome of this council meeting. So you have a choice. You either flee the country with her, or...."
"That's not an option for Gemma." Obsidian's lashes lowered, masking his eyes. "What else do you have in mind?"
"You stand in council and answer their questions, regardless of what they ask. You give them everything. I won't pretend it will be easy. You will have to betray everything you ever stood for, and I suspect there will be retaliation from your former companions, but if you take this step, I shall do my utmost to protect you. It's your decision. Gemma's life lies in your hands," Malloryn finished simply. "You have one shot to convince the queen my story is true. This is your moment, Obsidian. Them or us."
Gemma held her breath as Obsidian looked at her.
This was more than she'd ever hoped for. If he allied with Malloryn, then perhaps the pair of them had a future.
Ifshehad a future....
But Malloryn was demanding everything. Obsidian's loyalty. His soul. His future.
She knew he wasn't fond of the duke, or the council.
The former dukes of Casavian and Caine had been in charge of the Falkirk Asylum project, and two of their offspring were now on the council.
Could he do it? Could he look them in the eye, knowing what their fathers had sentenced him to, and maintain his composure?
