The Shadows Between Us

by Tricia Levenseller

Once he’s calm, he strides over to me and places his gloved hands on either side of my head. “My little hellion. Quite the force to be reckoned with, aren’t you? Oh, say you’ll marry me, Alessandra!” I swallow, thoroughly confused. “You’re not going to hang me?” “Hang you?” he repeats, letting his hands fall to his sides. “The man did you wrong, Alessandra. Honestly, you’ve saved me the trouble of tracking him down and killing him myself.” “But—” “I pardon you,” he says simply. I blink. “Just like that?” “Just like that. Anything for my friend.” I don’t know that I’ve ever hated that word more than when it comes out of Kallias’s mouth. “Will you marry me?” he repeats, easily turning back to our previous conversation. “What will happen if I say no?” “You’re still pardoned, if that’s what you’re worried about. I would never blackmail you into marriage! You’ll be free to remain at the palace as long as you wish or to go.” His face drops a little. “But I would be … most saddened if you left.” I think for a moment, but Kallias can’t bear the silence. “I need you, Alessandra. Say you’ll be mine and I’ll be yours.”