Elena immediately regretted speaking.
"To what?"
A knowing look entered his eyes.
The kind that made her want to throw something at him.
"That we're sharing a room tonight."
Silence.
Then—
"Yes."
The answer left her lips before she could reconsider.
Alaric's grin became impossible to ignore.
"Yes?"
Elena sighed.
Already hating herself.
"Yes, Mr. Alaric Hale."
The satisfaction on his face was immediate.
"Now that's what I'm talking about."
He pushed away from the doorframe.
Then offered her his hand.
"My dear fiancée."
The title should have sounded ridiculous.
Instead, it sent a strange warmth through her chest.
One she chose to ignore.
Naturally.
Elena stared at the offered hand.
Then at the man attached to it.
Then back at the hand.
This was a terrible idea.
A catastrophically terrible idea.
Which was probably why she accepted it.
The moment their fingers intertwined, Alaric's smile deepened.
Victorious.
Insufferable.
