Chapter 10 #2
"We also found records," another councilman adds. "Purchases of humans who died within months. Always explained away as natural causes or accidents. The pattern is unmistakable once you look at it together."
"Where is Councilman Thrain?" I ask.
"He attempted to flee during the search," Drex says grimly. "He's been detained."
"So it's true." Merra's voice is heavy. "A sitting council member, a murderer. The scandal alone will rock our society."
"It should," Oliver says quietly. "Maybe it'll make other Lactari question how they treat their 'property.'"
"Perhaps." Merra looks at us. "As for you two, you still broke into a councilman's estate. Technically a crime, regardless of what you found."
My stomach drops. "I understand."
"However, given the circumstances, and given that your illegal actions exposed a murderer in our ranks, I'm inclined to be lenient. The council will discuss appropriate consequences, but I doubt they'll be severe." She pauses. "The real question is what happens now. Between the two of you."
"What do you mean?"
"You've admitted publicly to your relationship. That cannot be taken back. Society will talk. Some will be scandalized. Others might be...curious. You'll face judgment, speculation, possibly ostracism from certain circles."
"I know."
"And you're prepared for that? Both of you?"
I look at Oliver. He looks back at me. And I see our entire future in that moment. The challenges, the judgment, the constant fight to be accepted. But also the possibility of something real, something genuine, something worth fighting for.
"Yes," I say. "We're prepared."
"Then I suppose we'll be watching to see how this unprecedented situation develops." Merra stands. "This session is concluded. Councilman Thrain will face trial for his crimes. You two are free to go."
We stand, both of us a bit unsteady. As we turn to leave, Merra's voice stops us.
"Widow Primsyn? One more thing."
"Yes?"
"For what it's worth, I hope you find happiness. Real happiness. You deserve it after the marriage you’ve endured."
The unexpected kindness brings tears to my eyes. "Thank you, Councilwoman."
Oliver
We don't speak until we're back in the carriage, until we're safely away from the council chambers and heading home. Then Primsyn turns to me, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
"We did it," she breathes. "We actually did it."
"We did." I pull her close, ignoring the pain in my shoulder. "You were incredible in there."
"So were you." She laughs, the sound slightly hysterical. "Gods, Oliver. We just exposed a council member. We just told the entire council about us. What have we done?"
"Changed everything." I kiss her forehead. "For better or worse, we changed everything."
She pulls back to look at me. "You said you loved me. In front of the council."
"I did."
"Did you mean it?"
I cup her face in my hands. "Every word.
I love you, Primsyn. I don't know when it happened.
Might have been the moment you looked at me on that auction block.
Might have been when you stayed in my bed that first night.
Might have been this morning when you walked into that council chamber ready to risk everything. But yes, I love you."
Tears spill down her cheeks. "I love you too. I think I've loved you from the start, and that terrified me even more than the council ever could."
"Still terrified?"
"Absolutely. But less so with you beside me."
I kiss her, deep, pouring everything I feel into it. When we finally break apart, we're both breathless.
"So what now?" I ask.
"Now? Now we figure it out as we go." She settles against my side, her head on my good shoulder. "We face whatever comes. The gossip, the judgment, all of it."
"And we're...what exactly? To each other?"
She's quiet for a moment. "I don't know. Partners? Lovers? Those words don't quite fit, do they?"
"No. But maybe we don't need a word. Maybe we just...are."
"I like that." She laces her fingers through mine. "We just are."
The carriage pulls through the gates of her estate. Our estate, maybe. I'm not sure how that works now. Not sure how any of this works.
But as we walk inside together, as servants bow and avert their eyes but don't look shocked or disgusted, just...accepting, I feel something settle in my chest.
Hope. Possibility. Future.
Corvask meets us in the entrance hall, relief clear on his face. "I heard the news. The whole city is talking about it. Councilman Thrain arrested, a scandal of epic proportions." He looks between us. "And you two, publicly acknowledged as...together."
"Is that going to be a problem?" I ask. "For the household?"
"Honestly? I don't know." Corvask's expression is troubled. "This is unprecedented. But Madam Primsyn has always been a fair mistress. If she says you're to be treated with respect, then you will be."
"Not as livestock," Primsyn says firmly. "Oliver is my partner. My equal. He lives here by choice, not by force."
"As you say, Madam." Corvask bows. "I'll inform the staff."
He leaves, and we're alone in the entrance hall. Primsyn turns to me.
"By choice," she repeats. "I meant that, Oliver. You're free to leave if you want. To go back to the wild, to live your life however you choose. I won't stop you."
"And if I choose to stay?"
"Then you stay. As my partner. My love. My choice."
I pull her close, breathing her in. "Then I stay. Because I want to."
"Even knowing what we'll face? The gossip, the judgment?"
"Especially knowing that." I tilt her face up to mine. "I'd rather face all of that with you than face freedom without you."
She kisses me softly, full of promise. "I don't deserve you."
"Yes, you do. You deserve everything, Primsyn. All of it. And I'm going to spend every day making sure you have it."
"That sounds like a pretty good future."
"Yeah." I smile against her lips. "It really does."
We stand there in the entrance hall of her estate, two people who should never have worked, who defied every rule and expectation to find each other. And for the first time since I was captured, I feel something I thought I'd lost forever.
I feel home.
Not because of the building or the estate or the luxury. But because of her. Wherever she is, that's home now.