The More I Invest in My Wives, the Stronger I Become

”This is beautiful,” Victoria breathed, eyes shining in the dim hallway light.

Daemon held the Emberalm Jade up between them — deep blue stone, catching the light like it had captured a piece of it and refused to let go, chain wrapped in delicate gold. ”It’s for you,” he said. ”What do you think?”

Victoria took it gently, turning it over in her palm, studying every detail like she was memorizing it. ”It’s stunning, Daemon.” She looked up at him. ”Help me put it on?”

He stepped behind her, careful hands sweeping her hair aside, and fastened the clasp at the back of her neck. The pendant settled against her collarbone, warm against her skin.

---

Victoria’s fingers rose to touch it, resting there a moment longer than necessary.

She’d been given gifts her whole life. Jewelry from suitors trying to impress the Hale name. Expensive trinkets from guild allies currying favor. Every single one carrying some quiet, calculated purpose behind it, dressed up as generosity.

This was different.

*This is the first gift anyone’s given me that actually meant something. Since my father.*

Her throat tightened around the memory before she could stop it.

”Thank you,” she said softly. ”I really do like it.”

Daemon looked almost startled by how much he meant it when he answered. He’d hesitated before giving it to her — she’d grown up with everything money could buy, and a simple pendant felt small next to that. But watching her face now, he knew he’d been wrong to doubt it.

”Promise me something,” he said. ”Don’t take it off. Except bathing. Anything like that. But otherwise — keep it on.”

---

Victoria stepped closer, close enough that he could feel the warmth coming off her.

”Why would I ever take it off?” Her voice had gone quieter, rougher at the edges. ”It’s the first gift you’ve ever given me.”

Her eyes turned bright and glassy, color rising fast across her cheeks.

”Now I owe you one in return,” she said. ”That’s only fair, isn’t it?”

”Of course,” Daemon said, a small smile pulling at his mouth. ”Though it’ll have to be something equally as good. Otherwise this one wins by default.”

”Trust me.” Something shifted in her expression — softer, and something else entirely underneath it. ”You’re not going to forget this one.”

---

He didn’t have time to ask what she meant.

Victoria closed the last of the distance and kissed him — hard, hungry, nothing hesitant about it at all.

Daemon’s mind went completely blank for a full second, every thought simply stopping in place. Then instinct took over, and he kissed her back just as fiercely, one hand rising to the small of her back, pulling her in until there was no space left between them at all.

Neither of them pulled away first. The kiss deepened, breathless and urgent, the hallway around them forgotten entirely.

When they finally broke apart, both of them were breathing hard, foreheads still close enough to touch.

---

For a moment, neither said anything.

Victoria traced one finger slowly down the center of his chest, watching his face the entire time.

”You taste good,” she murmured, almost to herself. She brought the same finger to her own lips, unhurried, holding his gaze the whole time she did it.

Daemon felt every last thread of restraint he had left simply give out.

He kissed her again before she’d even finished the motion, lifting her off her feet in one smooth movement, carrying her down the hall as their lips stayed locked together, both of them laughing softly between breaths at the sheer clumsiness of trying to move and kiss at once.

They reached her door.

*This was exactly what she’d been hoping for.*

Victoria pulled back just far enough to look at him, eyes dark and certain, and reached behind herself to push the door open.

It closed quietly behind them, and the hallway outside fell still.