And there was no mistaking the love in Maris’s gaze every time he looked at Darling, which was often. He hung on everything Darling said.

Likewise, Darling doted on Maris almost to the extent he did her. And while she knew it was because they were family, it would be easy to misconstrue their affection for each other if you didn’t know the truth of their relationship.

“Are you jealous?”

Zarya blinked as she realized the gerent beside her was talking to her. “Excuse me?”

He indicated Maris and Darling with his knife. “Are you getting jealous of them?”

She screwed her face up at him. “Not even a little.”

“Hmm… I commend you, then. I don’t think I could share my wife with another woman without it making me completely crazy.” He took a sip of his wine. “So I take it your upcoming marriage to the governor is politically motivated. Makes sense. You help him quell the Resistance, he reinstates your title and wealth. You both win.”

She was livid at his audacity. “That’s not why we’re getting married. I didn’t even know he was Darling Cruel when we were first engaged.”

Yeah, okay, that sounded extremely farcical and unlikely when said out loud. But it was the truth.

He laughed at her. “Are you terminally stupid? Or do you think I am? How could the leader of the Resistance not know the face of your enemy?”

Heat scalded her cheeks, and it seriously angered her that she couldn’t set the man straight.

“Z?”

She turned to see Darling watching her closely.

He slid his gaze to the gerent. “Is everything all right?”

Forcing herself to smile past the knot in her stomach, she nodded. “Fine, sweetie.”

Darling took her hand into his. “If you’re not feeling well, we can leave at any time. Just say the word.” He lifted her hand and pressed her palm to his lips. The fire in his gaze was unmistakable as he inhaled her scent and held her hand like a sacred object.

She savored the warmth of his lips on her skin, and it made her ache to take him home and pick up where they’d left off before coming here. And by the way Darling stroked her palm, she knew he felt the same way.

No, she had no doubt whatsoever about his sexual orientation or his devotion to her. “It’s all good.”

For the rest of the meal, Darling kept his hand on hers and made sure that the gerent didn’t speak to her again.

As soon as the meal was over, he rose and, breeching royal protocol, held her chair for her.

“Wow,” someone said near them. “You’d almost think he was straight given the way he treats her.”

“It’s all a show for us. Don’t be fooled. Nylan has always said that he gives the best head of anyone he’s ever slept with.”

“Yeah, I heard he moans like a bitch in heat whenever you screw him, and that he prefers to be the sub who takes it up his ass.”