Page 129 of Vow to Claim You

My heart warms, but before I can fully process it, Eero steps forward.

“She needs rest. And food. And somewhere quiet that locks from the inside.” His voice has none of its usual lightness in it. “I’ll see to it.”

Naomi looks at him, and some of the rigidity goes out of her.

“I can show you to a room,” he says to her, gentler than I have ever heard him. “Get you settled. No one reaches you in this house, Naomi. You have my word.”

“Eero.” Aric’s voice carries a low warning.

Eero meets his brother’s eyes, and for once, there’s not a trace of a joke anywhere in him. “I’m keeping her safe, Brother. That’s all.”

The look Aric gives him says he’s already clocked the thing that’s there, underneath the brave words.

So have I.

But right now I don’t care about Eero’s intentions, or my sister’s blush, or the complicated mess that’s so obviously brewing between them. I care about Naomi being safe. Being here.

“Go with him,” I tell her. “Get some rest. We’ll talk more later.”

She hesitates. “Ayanna, I’m sorry. I know this complicates things. I know Father will⁠—”

“Father can go to hell.” The words come out before I can stop them. Hard. Vicious. Not at all princess appropriate.

Naomi’s eyes widen, but she doesn’t argue. She lets Eero lead her out, and I don’t miss the way his hand hovers at the small of her back—not quite touching, but close.

The door closes behind them, and it’s just Aric and me.

I turn to face him. He’s leaning against the front of his desk now, watching me with that unreadable gaze. I walk to him and stop close to touch him. Then I reach up, and let my fingers settle against his jaw.

“Thank you.” The words are inadequate. Laughably so. This man paid a bodyguard to save my sister from a forced marriage, arranged an escape route across continents, and did all of it without ever expecting gratitude or recognition or a single thing in return.

Thank you doesn’t cover it. But it’s all I have.

“She’ll stay here,” Aric says. “For as long as she needs.”

“My father will come for her.”

“Let him.” The cold certainty in his voice should frighten me, but it doesn’t. If anything, it only makes me feel safe.

“He won’t take her, Ayanna.” He catches my hand before I can pull away, his palm enclosing it against his cheek. “He won’t take either of you. Not while I’m breathing.”

Some time later, I find Naomi in the guest suite Eero selected for her.

Of course it’s the nicest one. Of course it has the best view. Of course there’s already a fire crackling in the hearth and fresh flowers on the nightstand—flowers that definitely weren’t there before.

I knock softly on the doorframe. “Can I come in?”

Naomi looks up from where she’s curled on the window seat, a cup of Ingrid’s miracle tea cradled between her hands. She’s changed into fresh clothes—a soft cashmere sweater and loose pants, probably also courtesy of a certain blond Vold brother who has developed a sudden, intense interest in hospitality.

“It’s your house,” she says with a weak smile.

“It’s really not.” I make my way across the room and settle onto the opposite end of the window seat, tucking my feet beneath me. “I’m still learning where half the rooms are. Last week, I went looking for a bathroom and walked into a wine cellar.”

That gets a small laugh out of her. Good. She looks better than she did two hours ago, but there are still shadows under her eyes and a tremor in her hands she’s trying to hide.

“How are you feeling? Really?”

“Like I just fled the country with nothing but a backpack.” She sips her tea.