Burning Glass (Burning Glass, #1)(80)

Something fluctuated between our auras. He composed himself so quickly, however, that I dismissed it as my own restless gut. The revelations of the evening were taking their toll on my body.

“But you’re wrong that this isn’t also about trust,” Anton continued. “That night you proved to me you had the mettle to stand up against Valko, that your strength of will would always find a way to shine through. I also understood you had no wish to unite yourself with him.”

“I gave him compassion,” I said, feeling slightly ashamed.

“Because it was a tool of resistance—a remarkable tool! One I’d never considered.”

I turned my head away to study the intricately painted tiles of his furnace. My heart drummed in my chest. Some part of me always knew how dangerous the prince’s secrets were, yet I’d been relentless about digging them out. And now that I knew them, they might cost me my life. As I turned to meet his gaze, his eyes warmed with belief in me. I asked, “What is it you want me to do?”

He took both of my hands. He squeezed them. “Persuade Valko to give up the government.”

My brows shot upward. My mouth went paper dry. I wanted to laugh. I tried to, but Anton’s aura, rooted inside me, was sober, as if none of the rum in his tea had met his bloodstream. “Abdicate? That’s not . . . How could I possibly . . . ? You’ve lost your mind!”

“You’re the key, Sonya. With you, this revolution can succeed without bloodshed.”

I found myself yanking away from him, but he kept his grip on my hands. “You’re spectacularly wrong about me!”

“You have a power over my brother I’ve never seen the like of. He gave up Estengarde for you.”

“I didn’t ask him to do that! That had nothing to do with my ability. I stopped Valko from kissing me—from hurting me. That’s pitiful next to what you’re talking about. He won’t relinquish the throne of his empire because I whisper comforting words in his ear!”

Anton’s conviction didn’t falter. “It was no small thing for him to let you go that night, not after what he lost because he couldn’t bear losing you. He wants you, so very, very badly. He could charm a snail from its shell, and yet you keep him in check. Do you know how many women he’s seduced?”

I thought of Pia succumbing to the emperor’s kiss—Pia, who was devoted to Yuri. “Valko only wants me because I pull back. I’m a game to him.”

“It doesn’t matter the reason, whether it has to do with you or with me.”

My heart gave a funny little jump. “What do you mean with you?”

He shut his eyes, as if catching himself. A cascade of warmth flooded into me, distracting me from the magnitude of Anton’s request. It shivered across my skin and awakened me with sensation. The prince opened his eyes to look at our joined hands. His own softened over mine. “Valko lusts for power,” he said carefully. “I believe his desire for you equals his desire for Riaznin.” His gaze lifted and roamed over my face.

He hadn’t answered my question, not directly, but at the moment I didn’t care. The way he was staring at my lips made me feel beautiful, priceless, wanted. I inhaled a shaky breath and tried to steel myself back to what we were talking about. I couldn’t think of a thing to say except that I could never accomplish what he was asking of me.

“My failure in this will mean my death, and the death of everyone I care about.” Tola, Dasha. They wouldn’t last long here. You. I searched Anton’s eyes. This impossible plan also put his life at stake. Valko would discover his involvement, I was sure of it. I couldn’t bear the thought of bringing him any harm.

“Why didn’t you dance with me at the ball?” The words tumbled out of my mouth of their own volition.

His gaze flashed up to mine, his aura echoing my own surprise with myself. “It’s late,” he said. “We can talk more tomorrow night.” He let go of my hands, but I caught his back.

“Why?”

“Dancing with you would have been inappropriate,” he said matter-of-factly and looked away.

I angled closer and tried to force him to look at me. “It was more than that.”

He set his jaw. “Because it would upset Valko, and I knew he would exact his anger on you as a result.”

“He wasn’t there.”

“There were eyes and ears enough for him.”

I supposed I could understand that, but—“There is no one with us now.”

Anton frowned and his brows hitched together. His aggravation warred with the warm feeling still sliding beneath my skin. Cocking a sardonic half smile, which looked false on him, he asked, “Are you asking me to a midnight waltz?”

“Don’t make light of me. I’m not a child.”

His smile dropped. “No. You’re an Auraseer.” His tone was so accusatory, I knew I’d discovered the meat of the matter.

“You don’t trust my feelings?” For you, I wanted to add, but I was too swollen with hurt.

His hands in mine went stiff. “I’m trying to protect you.”

“From yourself?”

He lowered his gaze to the floor. “From any emotions that don’t belong to you. You suffer enough as it is.”

I let go of his hands. Frustrated tears welled in my eyes. I wanted to break something. Find a mirror and shatter it to prove it wasn’t me and wouldn’t make me bleed. As difficult as it was for the prince, he’d just admitted that he cared about me—and not in the brotherly way I’d always tricked myself into believing, but the achingly beautiful way that made me want to fold myself into him.