He sat back and crossed his muscular arms, raising an eyebrow at her. “Did Harth tell you to say that?”

“Think about what you just said, Weh-sheh.”

A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, tugged harder, and then he was laughing, and the strength of the relief that flooded through Yenni, that threatened to wring tears from her eyes, both soothed and panicked her.

He smiled softly at her. “Never change, Yenni Ajani,” he said, and then cringed.

“What is it?” Yenni asked.

“I apologize for”—his brow furrowed as he searched for the words—“for planning your life for you, and for saying you would have women’s duties.” He looked her up and down and shook his head. “I’ve said some idiotic things in my time, Harth will attest, but I think that one will go down as a classic. I’m sorry that I disrespected you.”

Yenni’s heart fluttered harder in her chest as she met his mesmerizing, jewel-toned eyes. As her gaze flitted down to those sensual lips, his strong jaw, she was glad Weysh could not smell her. Only through years of practice was she able to keep her face a mask.

“Thank you, Weh-sheh,” she said, and dipped her head in that queenly, magnanimous way her mother often did.

“Please don’t take this the wrong way, but I have some experience with parental expectations. It’s not right for someone to dictate how another’s life should be lived, especially someone as extraordinary as you. You’re so much more than simply someone’s wife, mine or otherwise.”

Yenni couldn’t help it—the mask slipped, and she knew Weysh saw her shock.

“You truly mean that?”

He nodded solemnly. “I do.”

“You would leave me free to choose my own life, even if it doesn’t include you?”

“I’ve come to realize that there is no other alternative, short of locking you away and keeping you miserable, and what’s the point of that, en? I would have you with me happily and willingly or not at all,” he said softly. “But I meant what I said. I will never give up on you. And if you choose to leave, I’ll be waiting until my dying breath for you to return.”

“But why?”

He held her gaze. “Why do you think?”

Dangerous, this was so very, very dangerous. Still, Yenni could not stop herself. “But you can no longer smell my scent,” she whispered.

He nodded again. “Indeed. I suppose that’s how I know this feeling is real.”

Yenni stood and slowly went over to Weysh, taking his hands. “I cannot promise you anything, Weh-sheh. All I know is that it does not make me happy to be apart from you.”

“Truly?” Oh the sweet hope on his face.

“Yes.”