He turned in the bed to give her his back. “Then we’re even.”

“How so?”

“I misjudged you, too. I once thought you were worth dying for.”

The door slammed shut in her face.

Retta stood there staring at the wood, her mouth agape, his words ringing in her ears. She glared at the door, half-tempted to kick it in and beat him. But she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of it.

Fine. If he wanted to play it that way, so be it. Far be it from her to argue. As he’d pointed out, she had a life in America. Lifting her chin, she turned and walked toward her room down at the end of the hallway.

And with every step she took, more tears gathered in her eyes as pain filled her. Her heart broken, she opened the door to find Raluca in her room, shaking her head at her.

Retta cleared her throat. “Don’t give me that look. You don’t understand.”

“I do understand.” Raluca crossed the small distance between them and held her hand out to her.

Needing to feel comfort, Retta took Raluca’s hand and then gasped as a spike of hotness tore through her. It ripped her from this room out into a lightless void that was searing and frightening. She heard winds howling in her ears as something whipped against her body. She held her hand up to protect her eyes as a sudden light pierced the darkness.

No longer in the manor, she found herself in the small cottage where she’d taken refuge with Velkan after their families had learned of their marriage. His family had disowned him and her father had vowed to see Velkan dead. And it’d been her father who’d found them first.

Completely disembodied, she stood in the corner where she could watch Velkan, who was kneeling beside her comatose body. Because they were in hiding, he didn’t wear the armor of a warrior. He was dressed in a simple tunic and hose. To her utter shock, there were tears in his eyes as he held her hand in his and kissed her fingertips. She’d never seen him look so vulnerable.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you,” he whispered, lowering her hand from his face. “Raluca will see you safe for me. Please don’t be angry that I’m leaving you. It’s the only way I know to free you to live the life you deserve.” He rose up so that his lips were only an inch above her own. “I love you, Esperetta. Always.” And then he pressed his lips to hers before he tore away with a growl.

Still, she saw the lone tear that slid from the corner of his eye, down his whiskered cheek. He brushed it away before he turned and opened the door to their cottage.