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I smiled. “I could become a billionaire.”

“You can.”

“Or rule the Twins?” I jested.

“You can.” He smiled, tucking my hair back. “But I know you won’t. Maybe you’ll do a better job with it than my family ever did.”

See, you know me so well, yet you won’t recognize what you feel for me. Instead of voicing that thought, I smiled at him. “Maybe my mother feared this going into the wrong hands, and she gave it to me to keep it safe till the day I find someone capable. And I know that’s you, Arkane,” I said softly, placing it back in his palm while he frowned at me. “Maybe it’s you who will also end this cycle, destroy this chip, burn that painting, and keep the Alacteon a secret so no one will ever even think of coming for your place. Maybe you’ll do what your father never dared to do,” I said honestly, not taking my gaze off him.

A sharp inhale left his lips, his stormy eyes glinting with intent and something more, a look he just saved for me. For a moment, it felt like nothing existed except the two of us before he slowly nodded, closing his fingers around it. “I will,” he promised.

CHAPTER 36

ARKANE

By the time we returned, it was way past midnight, and Bella slept the whole car ride back home. Home. Somehow, recently, it only felt like home because she was in it.

She only opened her eyes when I entered the loft, with her safe in my arms.

“Hello there,” I whispered as those warm brown eyes blinked at me sleepily. She was so adorable.

“Arkane?” she asked, confused for a second as she associated our surroundings. “You can put me down,” she mumbled.

But I went over to the couch and carefully lowered her. Instead of leaving, I sat down next to her. I know I shouldn’t stay, but I couldn’t help it. Maybe spending the whole day with her was a mistake.

She stretched out and sat up, and Buddy took the opportunity to jump into her lap. She smiled at him and started to curl her fingers behind his ears. And the bastard whined in joy, nuzzling his nose in her stomach.

My eyes couldn’t help but watch her, her glowing eyes, the radiance of her smile, and the comfort of her presence. It was addictive. More so now that I’d known how those pink lips tasted. I could erase a lot of things, but never the taste of her from my tainted soul.

“Do I make you sad, Bella?” I told myself that I would stay far away from her if it made her happy. But I wanted to know. I wanted to know if I, the cursed bastard that I am, somehow made her happy, too.

She frowned, her eyes flying to me. “What?”

Swallowing, I asked again, “Do I make you sad, Bella?” My pulse quickened as I waited for her answer. Never in my life had I ever felt this nervous.

“No, Arkane.” She shook her head and said softly, “You don’t make me sad. Quite the opposite— you make me very happy, most times at least.” She smiled.

“Tell me what to do?” The question slipped out of my mouth before I could stop myself. She told me everyone was capable of love, and that concept was lost to me since childhood. But what if? Just what if I really can? Suddenly, my responsibilities, duty, and power—none of them mattered. I simply just wanted to learn to love her. I wanted to know how it felt. I wanted to know how she felt when she looked at me with so much softness despite all the ways I fucked her up.

How can she still love me?

“I don’t understand,” she muttered in confusion. “Do what?”

“To have you in my life?” I whispered, taking hold of a lone strand of her silky hair and swirling it around my finger, lost in her beauty.

Her breath hitched. “I told you, Arkane, the way we want each other is not the same. I can’t be with someone who doesn’t love me back.”

“Teach me then.” My hand reached out to cradle her pink cheeks as I tilted her head toward me. My breath danced on her lips, and her eyes glistened at the softness of my touch. The world around us muffled in complete silence as our hearts beat as one. “Teach me how to love you,” I asked in a low tone. “Because if there is anyone I want to learn to love, it would be you, Bella.”

“Ark.” Her eyes widened, her soft thumb reaching out to slide over my hand. “That’s not something you teach someone. It’s something you feel.”

“Tell me then, how does it feel?” I whispered.

“Hmm.” She bit her lip, eyes on mine. “Well, I don’t know for others, but for me it’s comforting. It makes me happy. You make me happy,” she whispered. “I know you broke my trust and lied, but even then, I feel like I can run to you for anything, and you’ll keep me safe and take care of me. I see your flaws as perfection and your good as my guidance. I love all of you. Your good and bad are the same in my eyes, and I wouldn’t hesitate to do anything for you.”

Her words made it hard for me to breathe. “I feel the same way, too,” I whispered like a vulnerable boy. “Marry me, Bella.”

Shock filled her eyes before her sweet chuckle filled the room. “That’s not the reason you marry someone, Ark. People date and fall in love and then only marry if they want.”