Chapter 43. Day 2: The Eye of Imperium (3)

[2 hours later]

Aaron finally made it past Nathan’s appointed guards and into Emily’s room. She saw him and instead of feeling relief and letting herself fall apart in his arms, Emily found herself throwing a punch at his handsome, grinning face. He caught her fist and kissed it.

“Okay, I deserve that,” said Aaron.

“You deserve way worse. I should have you thrown out,” said Emily.

He went to her anyway and took her hands in his from behind.

“You shouldn’t be here, Emmy.”

“Neither should you!”

“You could have gotten yourself killed.”

His touch, his voice, they were gentle and soothing. Nothing like what she expected them to be. Emily was prepared to fight with him about the proposal, how she ended up in Imperium, all of it, especially after her little interaction with Keira, but now he didn’t want to, wasn’t angry and that somehow upset her more.

“I spent last night with him,” she said impulsively.

She felt him squeeze her h