“What about you?” I stare at my sister, who suddenly looks so strong and womanly. She’s not quiet or caged; she’s radiant and confident, like she finally stepped into skin that fits.

“I’ll live here, with Dane,” she says, turning to him. His hand lifts to her face, cupping the side of her jaw. A million question stir inside me, and I count down the moments until I can be alone with Bellamy again.

“Mathilde runs the household,” Dane says. “If there’s anything you need, let her know. She’ll be in shortly to give you a tour of the grounds. Please, make yourself at home.”

***

Jensen showers in the palatial bathroom attached to my royal suite. I’m stretched out across the bed, letting the day’s events sink into my skin with an intoxicating drowsiness. My eyelids flutter before heaviness weighs them down.

Knock, knock.

“Come in,” I call out with every ounce of energy I have left. My lids peel apart just enough to see my sister ambling toward me. A tight black dress squeezes her feminine curves, and her hair is swept back into a polished chignon. Diamonds circle her neck and drip from her ears. I swear I’m dreaming.

“Hey.” She slips a dainty hand on her hip before doing a twirl. Her lips dance into a reluctant smile. “How do I look?”

I sit up, rubbing my eyes. “Who are you?”

“Oh, stop.” She waves her hand, flicking her wrist where more diamonds rest in the form of a tennis bracelet.

“Who is Dane?” I realize I’ve been staying here almost two days now, and perhaps my question is a wee bit late, but it’s better late than never.

She fights a smile, as if the mere mention of his name sends her reeling. “He’s my boss.”

I arch my brows. “Just your boss?”

“It’s complicated.”

“He loves you.” I scoot back on the bed, folding my legs and resting my elbows on my knees. “That part is obvious.”

“It’s not that kind of relationship.” Her smile fades, evaporating the second she heard the L-word. “I don’t expect you to understand. It’s a… consensual, adult relationship.”

All this time I believed my older sister was chaste and true, perfect in every way. And it was all a lie. For that reason, I don’t believe her when she implies there is no love between her and Dane.

“Sometimes we do what we have to do in order to survive, and sometimes we surprise ourselves when we realize how far we’re willing to go to set ourselves free.” There’s a wistful drop in her voice, though a crystalline glint colors her irises. “Because of Dane, we get to live our lives exactly the way we want. No polygamy. No AUB. No sneaking around, hiding from the public. Our lives finally belong to us. This is freedom, Waverly. We’re finally free.”

The shower shuts off in the bathroom. Jensen will be out any minute.

“How’d you know about Jensen and me?” All those months, all that sneaking around—I thought we’d been careful.

Bellamy’s red lips part. She tilts her head. “Because you look at him like he’s the greatest thing in the whole world. Amongst other things…”

My cheeks flush, and I bury my face in my palms. It’s as if my diary has been left open for the whole world to read.

“It’s okay,” she says. “You don’t need to be ashamed anymore. We only get one life. If being with Jensen makes you happy, then that’s what you should do.”

A voice buzzes through speakers built into the walls. Of course this place would have an intercom, and of course it would be so well hidden in the décor, I wouldn’t notice it.

“Mademoiselle Miller?” Mathilde’s French accent cuts through the room. “The car is ready.”

“Where are you headed tonight?” I take in another look at my sister, a perfect vision of glamour and refinement. She has transformed into a stranger, though one I’ll ultimately adore and respect.

She picks up the train of her midnight dress, revealing rhinestones covering the four-inch heels on her feet. “I’m accompanying Dane to a private dinner at an associate’s house.”

Bellamy oozes serenity and elegance, and I can see why Dane would want her on his arm. She steps toward me, slipping her arms around my shoulders and leaning in for a hug. I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve hugged my sister in the last ten years. We’ve never been touchy-feely, and we’ve certainly rarely shared deep emotions or private moments like this. My eyes close as I breathe her in, her luxurious perfume every bit of what I expected.

“Have fun, Bell.” I hug her back, squeezing harder than I’ve ever squeezed anyone before.

She pulls away, gathering the silk fabric of her dress into her hands and saunters out, shutting the door behind her.

The bathroom door clicks open. “Can I come out yet?”

“Yes.” I whip around only to find Jensen standing in the doorway, a white towel wrapped around his waist. His body glistens, his hair sopping wet from the shower. Humid, soap-scented air escapes behind him and travels my way. I point toward a stack of clothes Dane had delivered, all of them in Jensen’s size. He has enough to last him the next few days as well as an envelope of cash, so he can buy more next time we’re in town.

Watching Jensen slip on a pair of boxer briefs, a white t-shirt, and a pair of blue satin pajama pants, a slow smile drags across my lips. He snaps the waistband of his pants and throws me a teasing wink. “It’s like we’re an old married couple now. Getting ready for bed together. Going to bed together.”

“It’s going to be weird sleeping together all night.” More importantly, though, I can’t wait to wake up next to him in the morning. “And the other night doesn’t count.”

“Of course not,” he says, strutting across the room toward me. He stops just before the bed, glancing down into my eyes and taking my face in his steady palms. “This is only the beginning. I plan to wake up next to you for the foreseeable future. Maybe even longer.”

“How romantic.” I roll my eyes.

“Look, I’m not good with this mushy shit. You know I want to be with you.” Jensen leans down, grazing his lips across mine before pressing them hard and depositing a single, feverish kiss that makes my stomach twirl.

“I want to be with you too.” I swallow air, trying to catch my breath. “But you’re moving to L.A. I’ll be in Salt Lake City for school. Just don’t say you want to be with me, when you know we won’t be together a few weeks from now. Don’t get my hopes up.”

He takes the spot next to me, dragging his fingers down my arm until he finds my hand. Our fingers lace. “We’ll make this work. I promise, Waverly. I don’t know how, but we will. We’ve come too far.”

I swallow the burning lump in my throat and blink away misty eyes that cloud my vision. This should be a happy moment. Like Bellamy said, we’re free. I’m not marrying Harold. I’m temporarily taking refuge in a palace fit for a queen. No longer will I live under my father’s thumb, making careful life choices all in hopes of making him proud.

I’m free to love whomever I want, and right now, I love Jensen Mackey.

His fingers leave mine, tracing my collarbone and then up the crook of my neck until his mouth lowers into my flesh. His teeth rake across my skin, biting and sucking, mixing pain and pleasure, which is fitting, because that’s exactly how I feel right now.

My face nudges toward his, craving his lips against mine once again.

“Did you hear me earlier?” He breathes his words into my ear, laying me on my back and climbing over me. “I told you I love you. I’ve never said that to anyone before, and I said it to you.”

“I love you too.” My hips widen, my stomach zips, anticipating the pressure of his hardness pressed against my core.

Jensen’s mouth claims mine, his hands cupping my face as his body weighs me down, grounding me more than he realizes. “I told you, Waverly. I know everything, and I know we’re going to find a way to be together.”