Release(94)

“You’re the Tramet heir,” said Tramet. “I have no children. You’re all there is. Please.”

Ariana sat back down.

Keirth looked at her. “Ariana?”

“Keirth, he’s obviously your father. You look just like him. And the Tramet title is going to die with the duke without anyone to inherit it. We can’t simply leave like we thought we could,” she said.

“But this isn’t what you want,” he said. “This isn’t what we want. And besides, I’m a convicted murderer.”

“Oh,” said the prince, “considering the evidence that Nigel has compiled, I don’t think that will be an issue for much longer.”

“We agreed,” said Keirth, staring into her eyes, “we didn’t want to be tied down. We wanted to be free, to go from place to place.”

“Nothing’s saying you can’t do that if you assume the title,” said Tramet.

“I couldn’t take care of Cecily,” said the prince. “You must let me at least take care of her child.”

Keirth sighed heavily. He sat back down next to Ariana.

She lifted her chin. “The sector destroyed Cecily. If we stay, we’ll want to use our position to help women like her.”

The prince caught Ariana’s gaze with his own. He nodded slowly. “Yes, absolutely. You couldn’t be more right.”