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.“Not yet.I thought maybe he’d be glad I managed to save you.”A wave of shame washed over me, and I busied myself buttering a roll so he wouldn’t see.“When I gave you the stone,” Evan said, “I wasn’t sure you’d use it.”“Thank you.For the stone and for, you know, saving me.” Debt or no debt, I was glad to be alive.“You’re welcome.”We ate without speaking for a few minutes.When he cleared away the salad plates and replaced them with dishes of pasta, he broke the silence.“You’re not usually so quiet.”I wasn’t.I usually tried to fill uncomfortable silences.“A lot has happened to me lately.Maybe it’s all finally catching up with me.”“Cassie,” Evan said, reaching across the table to lay his warm hand on mine, “You know I’d never hurt you.”“Yes.”“What did Nicolas say?” Evan asked.“Oh, you know, he was worried, he’s glad I’m alive, that sort of thing.”Evan arched an eyebrow.“And?”I closed my eyes.“He said you own me.”“Oh.”“It’s true, isn’t it?” I opened my eyes a crack, but his face was a mask.“I wouldn’t have put it that way.”“How would you have put it?”His mask remained firmly in place, but he played with his pasta.“There is an easy way to void the debt.Not only that, but it would keep you protected.”I looked at the red roses, and instantly understood.He was talking about marriage.That kind of family bond made magical debt irrelevant.“I don’t need protection,” I said, hoping to steer the conversation away from the more dangerous path.“Your parents disowned you.They may have claimed to offer you protection, but if they’re serious about cutting you out, they can’t.”I had already worked that much out, not that I wanted their help.“There’s my Uncle John-”“Interesting thing about your uncle,” Evan said.“I went to see him a couple of days ago, just to feel him out.He is of the opinion that the best way to protect you would be to marry you off to a powerful local sorcerer.”“What?”“Don’t worry, he won’t step aside for just anyone.They have to promise to treat you well, and they have to have enough money.He didn’t think I was a good candidate, though, despite my money.”My face drained of color.“That’s insane.” I couldn’t even imagine why any of the local sorcerers would want to marry me, but I didn’t ask.“Your brother will probably give protecting you a good try, but he’s young, and still not fully trained.”I nodded, acknowledging the truth of that.“So what are you saying? I’m in danger and there’s nothing I can do about it?”“No, that’s not what I’m saying.You’re under my protection.”“I can’t be under your protection.I already owe you more than I can possibly repay.”He reached across the table, and put his warm hand over mine, stroking gently.His eyes bore into mine, and I felt oddly captivated by them.“So marry me,” he said.I froze, every cell in my body seeming to react at once.My fingers and toes tingled, my heart thudded painfully, my guts twisted, and my head spun.I couldn’t breathe.My lungs began to burn painfully, but I couldn’t take in any air.I had to tell him no.I had to tell him that the other day, when I’d flung myself at him, had been a mistake.I’d just been upset and hadn’t meant to imply anything between us.I couldn’t be with him.I couldn’t be with a sorcerer.How would I survive in a relationship like that, always the lesser partner?No, my mind screamed.No! The answer is no!I sucked in air, opened my mouth, and said, “Yeah, okay.”“You look a little off,” Evan said.“Do you need to go back to bed?”Somehow, I didn’t think sleep would fix a thing this time.I kept trying to open my mouth to speak, to refute the words that had, despite my best efforts, emerged from my mouth, but nothing happened.“Cassie?” Evan was by my side in the next instant, his hand on my forehead, as if checking for fever.Nonononononononono!“Let’s get you back upstairs [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]