“It’s not that simple. I have no choice. To lie under Disclosure is also a death sentence.”

“They’ll never know. I won’t tell.”

His gaze sad, he sank his hands into her hair and held her in the tenderest of embraces. “Then I would damn my soul for the lie. I’m not a coward, Sumi. I knew what I was giving up for this moment with you. And I have no regrets… except for the part where I made you mad. I didn’t mean to do that.”

Tears choked her. “Then run with me, Dancer.”

“What?” he asked in confusion.

“I’m serious. We can get Thia and Darice back to their parents and leave. I’m not my sister. I’m not afraid of having your children, and I would never betray my husband’s trust. There is nothing more I would love than to hold your baby in my arms.”

“Oh, mia,” he breathed. “Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to be with you, but we can’t. You are Omira’s sister. If Fain ever sees you, the pain of his past would destroy him. I could never buy my happiness at the expense of my brother’s agony.” He pulled her against him and dipped his head down to rest it on her shoulder. “I will get your daughter back for you and see to it that you’re both outside of Kyr’s reach. But I can’t run with you, Sumi. I can’t do that to my family. My mother would never forgive me for dishonoring her.”

She scoffed at his words. “Are you telling me that your mother would rather have you dead?”

“Yes. She would.”

“Dancer,” she chided, “I promise you, no mother would rather lose her child.”

Lifting his head, he traced the line of her jaw with his thumb while a sad smile played at the edges of his lips. “That’s you speaking. You don’t know my mother. I promise you, she would much rather see me dead than be dishonored.”

“Then tell them I raped you.”

He arched an amused brow at that.

“I could have drugged you first. I did kiss you without your consent.”

“And my lips thank you for that.”

She hated that charming tone most of all. “This isn’t funny.”

“No. It’s not.” He picked her hand up and placed it against his heart that beat a fierce rhythm under her palm. His gaze burned into hers as he spoke in that deep, lilting accent that meant everything to her. “For one touch of your precious hand, I gladly consign myself to death.”

She wanted to hate him for that. But how could she? No one had ever made her feel like this.

Cherished and beautiful. Like she mattered.

That was why she couldn’t let him go.

“I will find a way to save you, Dancer. Mark my words.”