Page 156 of Ghost Ribbon

My fingers moved across his cheekbone, his jaw, the line of his temple where the scar lived. “You have to promise me you won’t do something stupid like that. Okay, amore?”

I had been meaning to call him that for some time now. I held back but now I wanted him to know he is my love.

“Don’t play with my heart like that, and I’m referring to the one in your chest.” I pressed my hand flat against the place where his heart lived, where it beat strong and reliable in a way mine no longer did.

“Because it belongs to me so let it stay right there,” I said, my hand pressing against his chest, feeling the beat under my palm. “Let it beat for me, okay?”

I gave him a smile. “You have to promise me, you won’t even think of those tests anymore. Positive or negative, okay?”

I watched the desperation, sadness, and the love collide in his expression, all of them fighting for space, none of them winning. “No,” he shook his head. “Marco, please…”

“Promise me.”

He shook his head again and I brought his head to my chest.

I pulled him forward and I pressed his face against the place where my heart lived - the failing one - and I kissed his head.

My lips pressed against his dark hair and held him.

He whispered it. “I promise.”

Your heart for mine—

what a cruel little exchange.

How could I take your heart

knowing the earth would take you in return?

I would rather let mine turn to ash

than live beneath a sky

that no longer has you in it.

Chapter 36 - Alexei

“You had no right to do that.”

I stood in front of Dimitri. My eyes were cold but he didn’t flinch.

He folded his sleeves and leaned against the table, crossing his arms. “If I would have tried to convince you, you wouldn’t listen to me. But I’m assuming you won’t break a promise to him.”

I wasn’t sure how right he was about that. In normal circumstances, yes, I wouldn’t break a promise to Marco, but every cell in my body, every functioning piece of whatever I was, was screaming at me to break it.

“Why the fuck are you meddling?” I glared, and I never really glared, but right now I wanted to beat the shit out of him. “Wouldn’t this be good for you? Rei would be very sad if he lost Marco, you know?”

He tilted his head and I kept going. “Or are you scared you can’t handle an empire without me? Is that it?”

Dimitri sighed. “Alexei, what exactly do you think you are to me?”

I answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“Your right hand. A spare.”

“You’re my family,” he corrected, and I arched an eyebrow. “You’ve got other cousins. I’m sure you’d survive.”

The deflection was automatic and Dimitri sighed again, heavier this time. “I have a lot of people I’m blood-related to,” he nodded. “That’s true. But you know how shitty I grew up.” He shrugged. “Ivan was a skunk.”