Page 47

I blinked a couple of times, trying to focus. A few more blinks brought Severin into focus. “I think I am having a panic attack.”

“Yeah, you’re definitely having a panic attack,” he said gently.

“Well, great,” I managed, breathless, my hand clutching my chest.

Severin tightened his grip slightly. “Look at me, Keira.”

I did as I was asked.

“Take a long breath through your nose.” I did. “Now, hold it.” I did. “Now, let it out through your mouth.” I did. “Good, again.”

Severin walked me through at least thirty breaths like that, my eyes remaining locked on his the entire time. Comforting and far too intimate.

The vein in my neck thrummed wildly. Surely he could feel it beneath his palm.

Being this close to him was too much and not enough all at once. My nostrils flared, and I searched for something to distract me from the heat flooding my body.

“Why are you so good at this?” I asked.

“Svetla had panic attacks starting at age eight years old.”

“Oh.” I swallowed hard, holding his stare. “I hope you don’t choke her like this when she’s having them.”

He chuckled. “Of course not.” But his hand remained around my neck. “I reserve this treatment for my women.”

“Women?” I asked. “Meaning multiple?” I gulped, immediately wishing I could shut my eyes from the embarrassment of caring. Severin had definitely felt that.

“I haven’t fucked multiple women since I was twenty-one.”

My eyebrows pinched together. That didn’t make any sense. Severin was a notorious playboy, and I wasn’t even sure he'd been monogamous when we were together in college.

He'd claimed he hadn’t fucked any other girls back then. But I didn't take his word as gospel. He was such a skilled liar and manipulator.

“But your—” I started.

“A notorious playboy?” He laughed like he could hear my thoughts. “Yes, well, I have a reputation to uphold. But the truth is I haven’t been with anyone since…”

He trailed off, his expression darkening.

I wanted to pry, to pull every last word out of him, but I didn’t. Instead, I remained utterly still and silent, knowing that if I said nothing, he might fill in the blanks.

Did I mention that, besides seven years of acting school, I also had a master’s in psychology? While pretending to be a therapist, I'd learned that silence was often the best weapon for getting someone to talk. I was patient, too. Terrifyingly patient.

But I would never make a great therapist, because unfortunately, I didn’t care enough about others to listen to their problems.

“Since Xeniya.” His Adam’s apple bobbed.

At my name, I held my breath and tried not to show any external reaction. And if it were possible, my eyebrows pinched even closer together.

“Who is Xeniya?” I asked, pretending not to know. Keira probably wouldn’t have. Neeve might have. We’d never talked about their engagement, so I couldn't be sure.

“Keira, we’re going to be married, so I think it’s best if we’re honest with each other.”

“Yes,” I breathed, waiting for him to say more.

“Xeniya was and will always be the love of my life.”

I lurched back as if stabbed in the chest, and Severin probably thought it was because my fiancé had admitted he loved someone else and always would.