Chapter Four. It should have been the other way around

Chapter Four

Elowen stared at him, certain she must have misunderstood what he had just said.

"An affair?" she repeated, her voice rising slightly. "Have you lost your mind?" She took a small step away from him. "You're asking me to have an affair with you? How are you better than them? Just because our spouses betrayed us doesn't mean we should do the same thing."

"I'm not asking you to betray Kieran," Lysander replied. "I'm asking you to make him believe you've found someone else."

Elowen stared at him. "And what exactly is that supposed to achieve?"

"Right now, Kieran has no reason to worry about losing you. He has you at home, waiting for him, while he carries on with my wife behind your back. He thinks he can have both without consequences. Valentina thinks the same." Lysander paused, his eyes fixed on hers. "But what happens when that certainty disappears? What happens when Kieran sees you with me and realizes you might not be waiting for him anymore? What happens when Valentina wonders if I've found someone else?"

Elowen frowned. "You think they'll suddenly care because we're spending time together?"

"I think they'll finally have something to worry about besides getting caught." His expression hardened. "They've been able to enjoy this because they've never had to consider that either of us might walk away. I want them to feel that uncertainty. I want Kieran to look at you and wonder if another man is giving you the attention he's been denying you."

He paused, then went on. "And who knows? Perhaps Kieran will realize he doesn't want to lose his wife. Perhaps Valentina will remember she has a husband and start fighting for her marriage. If they want us back, they'll have to earn the trust they've thrown away."

Elowen studied him, still unconvinced. "So you want us to pretend we're having an affair just to see whether they'll come running back?"

"Maybe it won't change anything. But how will we know if we never try?"

Elowen shook her head. "I think you've lost your mind, Lysander. I'm not interested."

She turned to leave, but her heel caught awkwardly beneath her. The floor tilted, and a startled breath left her as she began to fall.

A strong arm caught her around the waist before she hit the ground.

"Careful," Lysander said.

He steadied her against him, his hand firm at her back. She felt the warmth of him through her dress, and her heart gave a strange, sudden jump. He was about to let her go, and his hand began to loosen.

Then something crossed his face, quick and dark, there and gone.

His arm tightened instead, and he held her where she was.

"Elowen?"

The voice came from the end of the hallway.

Elowen looked up.

Kieran stood there, staring at them. His face was cold, his jaw tight, and his eyes moved slowly from Lysander's hand at her waist to her flushed face and back again.

He walked toward them, his steps measured.

"What are you doing with my wife?"

"She nearly fell," Lysander said calmly. His hand stayed where it was a second longer than it needed to, and his amber eyes met his brother's without flinching. "I caught her. You should thank me, Brother."

Kieran's gaze sharpened. He reached out and drew Elowen out of Lysander's arms and into his own, his grip firm on her arm.

"I'll take it from here."

Elowen frowned. The warmth in her chest turned sharp at his touch, and the sight of his face so close made her stomach twist. She pushed his hand away.

"I can walk on my own."

Kieran's frown deepened, and displeasure flashed across his face.

She had not pushed Lysander away when he held her, yet she dared to push him away?

His eyes darkened. Without another word, he bent and swept her up into his arms.

Elowen stiffened and pushed against his chest. "Put me down, Kieran. I can walk."

"Stay still."

His voice was low and hard, with no room in it for argument. She held his gaze for a second, then went still. She could feel his heartbeat against her side, quick and angry, and she turned her face away so she would not have to look at him.

He carried her back into the ballroom. Heads turned as he passed.

Valentina was the first to reach them, her brow creased with worry. "What happened? Is Elowen alright?"

"She's had too much to drink," Kieran said. "We're going home."

"Oh." Valentina's eyes moved over Elowen's flushed face, and she nodded. "Of course. Elowen, get some rest, okay? Call me tomorrow."

Elowen said nothing.

Kieran walked past her without another word.

Valentina's gaze followed them across the room. Her smile stayed on her face, but her chest tightened, sour and hot. She had seen how carefully his arms closed around Elowen, and the jealousy rose before she could stop it. She looked away, and her eyes landed on Lysander, who stood a few steps off with his glass in his hand.

A flash of disdain crossed her face, there and gone.

Why was I the one who married this bastard loser, while Elowen got Kieran? It should have been the other way around!

The look did not escape Lysander. He lifted his glass and took a slow sip, and pretended he had not seen it at all.