Crow stared at Penelope in shock when she said she didn’t want to end things. [i]So she wasn’t acting strange because she changed her mind. She was afraid because she thought I had changed mine,[/i] he sighed. [i]Just like I was.[/i] He was relieved that it had all just been a misunderstanding, but he still couldn’t shake his feelings of guilt for causing her so much trouble. She was risking everything to be with him. How could he ask her to do that without feeling at least a little bit bad?

He wavered for a moment as another thought came to him. She was risking a lot to be with him, but wasn’t he doing the same for her? Their situations might have been different, but he was going to be in danger of getting caught again if she stayed with him. Yet he wouldn’t want to lose her just because it would be safer to go home alone. How could he blame himself for making her life more difficult when he knew he preferred that she did the same for him? If she was truly content with giving up her status and family for him, then he had no reason to beat himself up for “dragging her down,” as William had said. It was her decision too.

“Gods, you have no idea how happy I am that you said that,” Crow shook his head and gathered her up in a tight embrace. “And the same goes for me. I know things might get a little more difficult, but I’m willing to take that risk if it means I’ll get to sleep next to you every night.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek and grinned. “I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: I don’t know what I did to deserve a woman like you, love. You’re amazing.”