KNOX’S POV

And I understand exactly what she’s doing—burying the ugliness of Hale under something warmer, pulling us back out of the cold—so I follow her lead, and I let the corner of my mouth curl, and I dip my head, all mock contrition.

“You’re quite right, Lady Aster. A grave error on my part.” I hold her gaze. “How do you plan to punish me for it?”

The flush is instant, and furious, and she fights it valiantly.

“That is—that is no way to—”

“Anything,” I go on, lower, “like the handcuffs?”

Her eyes go wide, and the color floods all the way up her throat, and she makes...