3. Catriona

3

CATRIONA

I watch with sick amusement as Felix's mouth falls open. He stammers a few times, looking at me like I just snapped a shackle around his ankle. After he's had a few seconds to gather his wits, he says, "You're all right with this, Cat?"

"We're not actually getting married. We're posing as a married couple. It's our cover."

The strangest look graces his face.

"What's the problem?" I demand.

"I wasn't prepared for you to propose to me this afternoon." His lips twitch with barely contained humor. "If I'd known, I would have taken more time with my hair."

I level him with a stare.

He chuckles, but he looks concerned. "And you think this is a…good plan?" His eyes say what he doesn't dare utter aloud: Is it wise to live together after what almost transpired between us last year?

Alone.

Unchaperoned.

This is a mistake. Arthur doesn't know how my rebellious heart feels about his son. My head knows Felix is trouble, but which will win while we're trapped in a cozy apartment together—my head or my heart?

And why did our first job have to be a werewolf? A nest of hobgoblins would only take a few days. An imp, a few hours.

"No," Felix says, startling Arthur and me both. "If word of this spreads throughout Valette, Catriona's reputation will be ruined."

"We won't use our real names," I say, a bit befuddled.

Arthur contemplates his son, bemused. Like me, he's likely wondering when Felix became chivalrous.

Or maybe that's not the reason he's actually opposed to it.

I frown at him. "If the thought of pretending to be married to me is so detestable?—"

"You know that's not the problem."

I don't think I've ever seen such a solemn expression cross his face. I feel like he's reprimanding me, but I have no idea what I've done wrong. This wasn't even my idea.

"Would you prefer I send Miss Mason with another hunter?" Arthur asks Felix, looking at him curiously.

Felix jerks his head toward Arthur. " No ."

"If not you, it will have to be someone else."

I've done a dozen werewolf jobs on my own, but I'm assuming he's trying to goad Felix into accepting by manipulating his pride.

"Fine." A muscle in Felix's jaw twitches. "I'll do it."

"Good." Arthur gets back to business. "As I was saying…"

I can't pay attention. Though I nod where I should, and answer yes or no in the appropriate places, my mind isn't on the job.

Finally, Arthur dismisses us.

"See Benjamin about your train tickets," he says as we stand. "You leave tomorrow afternoon. And be careful, all right?"

"We will, sir," I answer.

To Felix, he commands, "Don't forget to say goodbye to your mother."

Felix nods, his mood strange.

We leave Arthur's office, and I'm suddenly uncomfortable.

"It's an hour until five?" Felix asks, glancing at his pocket watch before he snaps it closed. "That should be enough time."

"Time for what?" I ask, growing nervous. I don't think he's talking about packing.

He meets my eyes, holding me hostage in his blue gaze. "To get married."

I stare at him. "Pardon?"

"At the courthouse," he explains.

"I'm not marrying you," I hiss, lowering my voice as I look around to ensure no one is in the stairwell.

"We'll have it annulled after the job is complete. This is just insurance."

"Insurance for what ?"

"Your reputation."

"You're going on about that again? I'm no one. My reputation doesn't matter."

"It matters to me." He starts down the stairs. "And I'm sure it matters to your parents. This way, if news of our situation leaks, we can say we eloped. If no one finds out, we'll quietly dissolve the marriage and move on with our lives."

"This is ridiculous."

He stops, looking back at me. "It's not ridiculous. Because if you look at me the way you did at the autumn ball even once, I guarantee I will leap into trouble with you in the blink of an eye. For your sake, I'd like to be married at the time."

My head and heart both reel. My mouth is dry, and I'm breathing too hard. Dumbly, I say, "We can't have the marriage annulled if we…"

He raises a sandy brow, looking wickedly handsome as he persuades me to become his wife . I can't think straight. What girl could?

Felix takes one step up. Now we stand eye to eye, closer than we should be considering the subject of our conversation. "Then you best keep your hands to yourself, bluebird, or you'll be stuck with me until death do us part."

"I don't even like you," I feel the need to tell him.

He smirks. "Then it should be easy."

"For me, yes. But I'm not the problem."

His dimple appears as his smirk becomes a grin. "You think I'm the problem?"

"I know you are. I can keep my hands to myself, but you? Impossible."

"I can go longer than you."

I laugh, shaking my head.

"Marry me, and we'll see who caves first," he dares.

"Fine," I say, rising to his challenge…though I know I shouldn't. "Let's get married."

"Fine," he parrots.

We study each other a few seconds longer and then continue down the stairs.

Thirty minutes after we leave Arthur's office, we stand in the courthouse. Felix stares at me. I stare back. We wait for the other to back down, but neither of us does.

Barely looking at the paper, I sign my name on the marriage license. Once I'm finished, I flick my wrist, offering Felix the fountain pen.

He takes it, as bold as you please, and signs his name next to mine without so much as a second's hesitation.

"You may kiss your bride," the bored official says.

Felix extends his hand toward me. "She'll have to settle for a handshake."

I give him a knowing smile and grasp his palm. His grip is firm. Mine is firmer.

We shake once, and the deal is done.

"As a representative of the court, I would like to offer you our heartfelt congratulations," the official says in a monotone voice as he scans our paperwork. "The bakery down the street offers our patrons a discount on a cake to celebrate the grand event if you're—" He cuts off abruptly. His eyes catch on our names, and he looks up, squinting at Felix. "You're not Lord Cunningham's son…are you?"

The poor man sounds terrified, likely wondering if he just officiated a paperwork wedding for the son of one of Valette's elite.

"I am, but don't worry." Felix gives him a reassuring grin. "This was my father's idea."

The man's chin wobbles.

I grab Felix's arm and pull him toward the door. "And we don't need a cake. We have a werewolf to track."