Keira stared at the velvet box in Alexei's hands, her heart hammering against her ribs. Now this… him giving her a ring made it seem so real.

"Alexei." Her voice came out smaller than she intended.

"It's not what you think," he said quickly, reading her expression. "Not yet, anyway." He opened the box to reveal not an engagement ring, but a delicate gold chain with a pendant. "This belonged to my mother. She left it to me."

The pendant was exquisite, a small sapphire surrounded by diamonds ...