Page 63 of Silent Snowfall

“What bothers you the most?” He pulled a velvet box from the bag.

I eyed it suspiciously. “That people in the life have a way of dying. I already lost someone to the underworld, and I don’t want to lose anyone else.”

“Anyone else?” He cocked his head to the side.

“My boys,” I protested.

“And?”

And you. “It’s a dangerous life.”

He let out a long breath. “Life is dangerous.”

I snorted and rolled my eyes. It was either that or let the moisture gathering my eyes start to fall.

“As far as your sons, they don’t have to take the oath.” He continued to rub my wrists.

I stared at him. Hard. “Isn’t it a badge of honor? Or some shit like that?”

“It can be. But it doesn’t have to be.” He pulled me to my feet and bent for my dress.

I let him help me into it, mainly because I was still shaking from the rush of dopamine flooding my veins. Once my clothes were on, he slipped into his.

“I swear to you, your boys can have whatever life they want,” he said, reaching and catching me before I could dash away. “If a normal future for them is what it takes for you to stay here, I’ll make it happen.”

Emotions choked in my throat. I barely managed to croak out, “Thank you.”

“As far as any other concerns you have, we’ll deal with them. One by one.” The click of the case opening drew my attention back to the box.

The masked man plucked a stunning strand of sparkly stones from it.

“I swear to you, you’ll never regret moving here,” he added, draping the glittery bracelet over my wrist. “And you’ll never regret being mine.”

He sealed the promise by fastening the clasp.

I was speechless, staring at the gift.

“Merry Christmas, Rose,” he breathed, lifting my hand and placing a kiss on my knuckles.

As he lowered it, his thumbs grazed over my fingers once more, then he dropped both my hands, turned, and went to the pocket door.

“I don’t want to lose you!” I blurted out.

He paused, the pocket door cracked open. Turning to look over his shoulder, he gave me a clipped nod.

“You won’t, my little rosebud.”

My heart didn’t stop thundering as I stood there. It took too long for me to breathe normally again. I twisted the bracelet back and forth, captivated by the simple elegance of the strand.

Was it possible that I had a future here? That was what he was proposing. Not my family, although they were included in the deal. But me. I wasn’t a single mom.

I was someone, who could belong to another.

I was his rose.

Stopping in the bathroom, I groaned at the ‘flower’ staring back at me. She had smeared makeup that took far too long to wipe away. The hair was a hopeless snarl. I fixed my appearance the best I could before braving the Christmas party.

Which was enjoying dessert Bohemian style in the grand ballroom. Seated on a pile of Persian floor pillows, my grandmother took one look at me and dropped her plate of chocolate torte in her lap.