I smiled up at him. As per usual, Eli was understanding and helpful. I didn’t love Hunter, I was sure of that, and the relationship between us needed adjusting, but for right now, my relationship with Eli needed my whole attention. He chose to save me over Mila. Consequences must come with that.

“What are you thinking?” he asked me.

“About Wednesday night, you chose to save me over Mila…”

“I did.”

“Why?”

He frowned. “I figured I’d rather be banished than live in a world where you didn’t exist.”

“I doubt Mr. Aleksandrov was very happy with you.”

“No, he wasn’t. He doesn’t think I should be her guardian anymore.”

I glanced down at his wrist. I didn’t know what tattoo he had before, but whatever it was, it was barely a scar now. I felt guilty.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. It wasn’t your fault. You couldn’t have known what I was going to do.”

“How’s Mila dealing?”

“Fine, actually.” He chuckled. “She said she prefers being independent… whatever she means by that.”

I laughed. “And what happens to you? Every guardian in the school saw what happened. Someone is bound to tell someone higher than Mr. Aleksandrov.”

“Mr. Aleksandrov is doing his best to contain what happened. He doesn’t want to banish me, but if it does spread… there’s no telling what the council will do.”

I cupped his face in my hands. “If it comes to that, we’ll run away together.”

He let out a skeptical laugh.

“I’m serious.”

He pushed his weight onto me, pressing my back firmly against the slightly dusty mattress.

“But I’ll have to take Mila as well,” I added. “I promised I wouldn’t leave her again.”

Eli smiled. I wasn’t sure if it meant he agreed with what I said or not. It didn’t matter, I didn’t care whether he agreed or not—I would follow Eli to the ends of the earth if I had to. He kissed my lips softly, awakening something inside me. The same desire that burned through me in the hospital rose again. Eli’s breathing deepened, he felt the same.

“Whatever happens, we’ll get through it together,” He said against my lips.

“Mmhm.”

Eli tangled his hands through my hair and trailed small kisses and nibbles along my jawline and down my neck. I shivered under his touch and wrapped my hands around his neck. His hand trailed underneath my dress, making goosebumps erupt over my skin. His hands kept going up, further and further until they settled on my breasts.

“Eli?”

“Hmm?”

“You promised to kick my ass when we got back from Mount Kuuce.”

He chuckled against my skin. “Well, once we’re finished with what we’re doing here, I’ll take you to the gym and kick your ass.”

I laughed as his hands suddenly became ticklish. He ran his hands over me faster, making me wiggle underneath him in an attempt to get away. He hitched my thigh up around his hip and nuzzled my neck.

“I like hearing you laugh,” he whispered. “You should do it more often.”

I ran my fingers through his hair and stared up at the ceiling. This was so different from the other conversations Eli and I had shared after a showdown. The other times had ended in heartbreak and pain, but this time it was loving and sexy—this time gave me hope for the future.

“I love you,” I said into his dark hair.

He looked at me. His eyes were filled with such passion and love.

“I love you, too.”