Page 61 of A Thief to Die For

‘I will … as soon as I can. But not without a deal.’ My hand covers hers. ‘No coal means no electric fence to protect my people. All our progress ends. So I have to stay until then. The question is: when I leave, do you want to come with me?’ Do you want to give this mad plan a shot?

She blinks. ‘Atlas won’t just let me go.’

‘If we’re married, he can’t claim you. Even if he tried to keep us apart – too bad. The connection weaves you together. I’ve seen it with my cousin, and it’s powerful.’ Then I tell her about Tristan and Isadora and how even as enemies they ended up together. ‘We’ll be able to protect each other. Work together by sharing memories. That means we can plan without even speaking – if we’re near each other. Whatever Atlas or anyone throws at us, we’ll have the upper hand because of the connection. We’ll be the ultimate teammates – and harder to kill.’

I hear myself and stop talking because you don’t rush stuff like this, even with someone you know you can easily fall in love with. ‘I realise this is a lot. It’s also pretty much a forever-kind-of-thing. So … you should take time to think about it. I will too. It’s not something we should enter into lightly.’

The coals grow dim, close to burning out.

‘We should keep the fire going,’ Marian says, standing. ‘There’re twigs and fallen branches along the path below. Enough to last the night.’

My head snaps up. ‘Shouldn’t you get back to the compound?’

She smiles, then looks away shyly. ‘Nobody will notice I’m gone until the morning, and … I have too many questions to leave now.’

That sounds promising. ‘Like?’

‘You mean, aside from all my unasked questions about the connection? I also want to know …’ She sighs. ‘What does your home look like? And who’s in your family? Who’s your best friend? And how do you celebrate your birthdays?’ She laughs. ‘When is your birthday?’

I smile, genuinely charmed. ‘Those are a lot of questions.’

‘And I have a lot more … because, yes, this is wild and rash and impulsive. Did I mention wild? Incredibly rash?’

‘And impulsive,’ I add, a rush building in my chest.

She nods. ‘But if we’re going to seriously consider marriage, then we should get to know each other, don’t you think?’

‘Thanks for walking me back.’ I glance up at my bedroom window. ‘I should go inside.’ The night passed in a blur, and now the sun is getting too high in the sky to ignore.

Ryland frowns, then glares in the direction of our spy. Soren’s buddy, Diggs, spotted us returning and has been performing his guard duty with a grating level of seriousness.

Ryland’s jaw flexes.

‘It’s fine,’ I mutter. ‘Atlas wanted me to seduce you for information, remember? So we don’t have to hide this.’

His head snaps back to me. A smile curls on his lips, growing deeper the longer he stares. ‘Well, in that case.’ He suddenly leans in, cupping my jaw, and kisses me.

My stomach flutters violently, like I’ve been bucked off a horse. Speaking this way and kissing in plain sight is so wild. Reckless. It’s night and day from what I let people see of me as a guard. I don’t recognise this fevered, giddy version of myself. This isn’t us pledging our lives to each other after only one night alone; but we are letting this new world of possibilities play out. And it’s intoxicating.

‘When can I see you again?’ he mutters softly against my lips.

My chest swells at the thought of more of him. I wish our time didn’t have to end, but I haven’t slept a wink in twenty-four hours and real life awaits. ‘Later? I’ll need to check in with the first lieutenants. Maybe slip in a short nap. I’m not sure when Atlas will return, but my evening should be free.’

Ryland studies me, something troubling making his brows pinch.

‘What is it?’ I ask.

‘When the Commander calls me in for our next meeting, there’s a chance he’ll send me packing.’ His deep voice softens. ‘If he does, I’ll wait for you at the end of the Notting entry road. On the west side. Meet me there and we can decide on the next steps. I’ll respect whatever you choose.’

My head drops low. Sometimes I barely notice how much I’ve separated myself from nearly everyone else, all so I protect them from the fallout of my raids. But other times, like now, I feel the magnitude of my isolation, and it’s … crippling. Ryland is a glowing beacon, reminding me that this life I live, the risks I take, are not what I want forever.

It’s incredibly tempting to accept his offer.

But at the mention of Atlas, my stomach spirals with dread. Or more accurately, fear. Atlas will never simply let me leave … or marry Ryland.

Just don’t fall for him in return. I’m a jealous man, and I don’t share my things.

Even if we eloped, and I took Agatha with us, what about the Dresden or Dezzy? How could I protect them all from the fallout of Atlas’s rage?