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Bell grits his teeth, his ire growing by the second. “Tell me, Silas. Why would you not want to command an order as powerful as Nocturnus?”

My brother reaches for Jessamine. The second she’s at his side, he wraps his arm around her waist. “Because I don’t want power, Bell. I want late mornings and even later nights, trips to Evigheden for pleasure, not business. I want to have children and actually know them. And when I die, I want to do so with this woman by my side. No ravens, no initiates, and no rituals. Just the love of my life and our children.”

A few more tears find their way out of my eyes and down my cheeks. “That’s beautiful, Silas. I wish that for you more than anything.”

Bell stands abruptly. He drinks the last of his whiskey and slams his glass down on the table. “Come, Arkana. We must go.”

“I’m still visiting with my brother,” I hiss. Whatever foul mood has gotten into him?

He grabs my arm and yanks me out of my chair. “I said we are leaving. Now.”

Silas snickers. “Go, Arkana. Do not upset this man any further. Jessamine and I have dinner plans anyway.”

My cheeks heat as I shrug Bell off. “Fine. Let me embrace them before we so rudely depart.”

Bell glares at me, the muscle in his jaw pulsing.

I give both Silas and Jessamine each a hug. “I will talk to Mother. Don’t worry about a thing. Once Finn is sworn in, she’ll come around to your new life.”

“Thank you, sister. You have become an honorable and brave woman. You might be the strongest of all of us Graves yet.” He kisses my forehead. “Come visit us again soon.”

A deep sense of dread fills me. The thought of Finn taking over Nocturnus terrifies me to my core. But I am happy for Silas and Jessamine. They deserve to be happy. We all do. I stomp past Bell and head for the hallway.

I fly down the first set of stairs before he is at my heels. He grips my waist and spins me around. “Wait.”

I shove against him. “Your behavior is abhorrent!”

He holds me tight in his grip. “And yours is too accommodating. You should have pushed him more.”

I have had about enough of this man’s mood swings. “Why? He’s in love, and he’s happy. He doesn’t want my father’s life, and I don’t blame him. I’ve seen the things they must do for Nocturnus, Bell. It is a very dark and treacherous path.”

“So is poverty and sickness and isolation,” he growls. The vein in his neck pulses with anger. He walks me back, shoving me against the wall. “Silas will lose everything, his birthright, his inheritance, and even his family. For one woman? For love? Don’t be so naive, Arkana. He will die miserable in the end.”

My heart sinks, and my stomach drops into my bottom. I sensed Bell was an angry man. But I did not think him to be a bitter one as well. He holds many secrets, and the more I know him, the less I actually know.

I pound my fists on his chest, harder with each statement I utter. “Oh, so that is what you care about most. Money and power and greed over love. You think that will bring you more happiness? Well, you are in for a rude awakening soon, Lord Erebus, because you, my love, are going to be miserable no matter what you do. Because you are a miserable fucking person!”

He grabs my wrists and pins them over my head. “I did not mean me, Arkana. Why must you always be so insufferable?”

The knot in my chest tightens. I needed this outburst of his to remind me to keep my guard up. I’ve been acting like a lovesick puppy these past two days. “You expect me to believe that your foul mood is out of concern for my brother? This is only the second time you’ve met him. I knew you were a liar, Bellamy; I had no idea you were a coward too.”

His eyes shade to pitch-black as his hands wrap around my neck. “Do not call me that, woman. My name is Bell. And you have no idea what I’ve endured. You have no right.”

My body aches for him, my heart bleeds for him, and yet he infuriates me like no other man has ever done. “So then tell me. How can I know when you keep the darkest parts of you locked away? I am your wife, Bell. The woman who has sworn to love you until death. I will bear your children, my lord. When will I be good enough to bear your secrets?” I can’t stop the tears from falling, nor can I catch my breath. I hate him as much as I want him.

He blows out a shuddering breath and presses his forehead to mine. “Shhh. You are enough, my love. Please stop crying. I’m a bastard who does not deserve your tears.”

But I can’t stop. Everything comes rushing forward—my father’s death, my mother’s coldness, Silas’s departure from our family… my husband who sees me as a prize he’s won. “You care nothing for my feelings.”

He spins around so his back is to the wall now and gathers me in his arms. “I do, I swear. But there are things you don’t understand about me… about my life.”

“Then make me understand. You can trust me with your secrets, husband.” I gaze up into his eyes, wanting so desperately to read them. To know as other wives know their husband’s hearts.

He wipes the tears from my cheeks with the pads of his thumbs. “I don’t trust anyone, Arkana… Forgive me.”

My blood runs cold for him. It is wise that I’ve not fallen because this man will decimate my heart if I let him. I stand up straight and gather my composure. “It’s fine. You’re forgiven. We should go. My mother is going to lose her mind when she finds out Silas isn’t coming home. I would prefer to get it over with.”

As I start down the stairs again, he grabs my arm. “Why do I fear you’re going to stab me in my bed tonight?”