He’d just never guessed Tessa’s was made of steel and grit and Norse magic.

Knowing what he did about her now only made him like her more. She’d chosen a very deliberate path for herself. One that wasn’t easy. He admired that kind of determination. It spoke to her strength of character and fortitude. She’d decided not to be defined by the parameters of her kind.

He frowned. But then so had Evangeline when she’d turned her back on being his wife to pursue the vampire life of instant gratification and endless pleasure she thought existed beyond the walls of their manor house.

It wasn’t the same, though. Not at all. He couldn’t imagine Tessa shirking responsibility in favor of her own selfish desires. Her agreeing to be his fake fiancée was proof of that.

No, Tessa was the kind of woman he should have married. Not a narcissistic status-seeker, but a woman who understood duty and responsibility and sacrifice.

Bloody hell. That was the life he lived now and he was miserable. What kind of life was that for anyone?

Tessa deserved so much more than that. She deserved rich experiences and happiness and to be loved by a man who understood how amazing she was.

He swallowed. He knew very well how amazing she was. But he didn’t dare let himself love her. He wasn’t what she deserved. Especially after he let Evangeline hit her with the foil. How unfair that the woman he’d spent his adult life protecting had been the cause of his failure to protect Tessa.

Blast it, he wasn’t what any woman deserved. Evangeline had shown him that rather clearly. And continued to do so.

Evangeline strolled in and plopped down in the chair across from his desk, putting an abrupt end to his musings. “A cat, Sebastian? I wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen the beast with my own eyes.”

He scowled. If thinking about Evangeline brought her into his presence, he must find a way to strike all memory of her. “I didn’t realize I’d forgotten to lock the door.”

She made a face at him. “Yes, well, here I am. What are you going to do with me? Are you going to throw me out?”

“Are you going to sign the papers?”

She kicked her legs up over the arm of the chair and leaned sideways in it. “Eventually. Probably.” She traced the seam of the leather. “Are you sure you want to marry Tessa?”

He shook his head at her nonsense. “Unequivocally, yes. What are you playing at?”

“Nothing. Just making conversation.” She pointed a lazy finger at him. “You should take her around the world for your honeymoon. Make a grand gesture out of it. See the places you and I never made it to.”

Just like Evangeline to assume what he would and wouldn’t do. “How do you know we haven’t already?”

She shrugged. “You’re right. I don’t. Except that I know you and you were never one to vacate a residence unless the season dictated it. But please, tell me I’m wrong. Tell me where you and Tessa have been.”

He frowned. Anything he said would be a lie. But what was one more on top of the many he’d already told?

Evangeline studied her nails. “Paris is lovely in the spring. You should put that on your itinerary.”

“We’ve already been. Last year. It was remarkable.” He’d tell Tessa about this new wrinkle as soon as he was free of Evangeline.

“Really? Paris? How wonderful. I’m so happy for you. I’m glad you’ve found a woman who’s spurred you to travel and experience new things. Tell me again why you haven’t married her yet.”

He launched halfway across the desk. “Because you refuse to release me from our marital bonds. We’d already be married if not for you.”

“I see.” She nodded, something swirling in her gaze. “I’ll tell you what. Let’s take a trip tomorrow night to that new wedding chapel Julian was talking about. You two get married and I’ll sign the dissolution of relations for the vampire council as soon as the ceremony’s done.”

He stared at her. The lie about Paris seemed inconsequential now. Tessa would never go for this. He swallowed. “I don’t think Tessa will agree to that. I imagine she’ll want a proper ceremony, with friends and family and—”

“You imagine?” Evangeline leaned forward. “You’re engaged to a woman you’ve been seeing for over a year and you haven’t talked about the kind of ceremony you’re going to have?”

“I, well, I’ve left that up to Tessa.”

Evangeline smirked. “Typical male. Say, if you’re so in love with her, why haven’t you contacted the council and told them that I left you? With proof of infidelity, you could have had your dissolution.”

He couldn’t tell her about the promise, but he could tell her something. “Because I never bothered to get proof. I knew what you were doing. Why would I want to actually see my wife cheating on me?”

“And maybe you were holding out hope that I’d come back. That we would reconcile.”

“Maybe. But that changed when I met Tessa.” How true those words were.

“That’s all I needed to know.” She got to her feet. “I’d suggest you talk to Tessa about my offer because it’s got an expiration date. I either see you two get married tomorrow night—no, tonight, or I’ll write to the vampire council and tell them of your infidelity and how as my sire you’ve thrown me over for another woman.”

Cold sluiced down his spine. “You wouldn’t.” And now she knew he couldn’t do the same because he’d just told her he didn’t have proof of her betrayal. The cold turned to anger. Evangeline was the same conniving shrew she’d always been.