Page 13 of Jetmir

I felt the blood drain from my face. “What?”

“He said he’d give me Amara if I gave him you.”

I gave my head a subtle shake. “Yeah, I heard you. But he… He actually said that?”

“Yes.”

I pulled my hand away without meaning to, standing abruptly.

“He thought he could⁠—”

“He was trying to bargain.”

“Over me?”

“Over both of you.”

I paced toward the window, my heart pounding so hard I could feel it in my throat.

Jetmir was bargaining with us like we were pieces on a board. Like our lives could be exchanged between men who thought they had the right to decide what happened to us.

“What did you say?”

My brother turned his face toward me.

“I told him no, of course. He said he would give you more than anyone else. Freedom. Empire. But it was all a lie, because he didn’t even give you the freedom of choice.”

I winced, unable to find the words or to look at my brother out of shame. Yes, Jetmir lied about his identity, but I couldn’t say that since I’d met Jetmir, choices hadn’t been my own.

“You didn’t even consider it?” I asked, looking back at him.

“No.” He shifted against the pillows, his expression hardening. “I don’t trade lives, Anya. Not Amara’s. Not anyone’s. But especially not yours.” His voice cracked slightly. “You’re my sister. My flesh and blood.”

“Why would he do that?”

“Jetmir seems to think people are currency.”

I felt tears burn behind my eyes.

“He said he’d give me Amara,” my brother continued, “as if she belonged to him to give her away in the first place.”

I wiped quickly at my eyes.

“And you told him?”

“I told him no, and if I caught him anywhere near you, I'd kill him. He has long hated the fact I was interested in Amara, so I assume it was his way to get me to back off. By threatening me that he would pursue you.”

My throat tightened. “You think… that’s the only reason he did all this. The only reason he married me?”

He turned his face toward me, even though he couldn’t see me.

“Honestly, I’m not sure.” Sincerity shone in his voice. “I want to say yes, but the way he talked about you—” He shook his head. “It was like he already considered you his. In retrospect, I should have warned you and our families about it. If I had, you’d have been wary of him the moment you met him.”

I closed my eyes, my heart twisting inside my chest. Was I a bargaining chip to my husband? Did he want more power or did he really care about me? It was hard to trust anything right now.

“When did this happen?” I asked, opening my eyes and staring out the window, but not seeing the city below me.

“At the same time Amara, Skye, and Penelope were visiting the club.”