ian

fice twelve minutes

one," h

hea

rly reports on my desk. They were last year's. Nobody had needed them. "She asked

I say

o met my eyes without

ars. He knew exactly what I would allow and what I wouldn't, and he'

indow and looked down at the

ue. My uncle wanted my seat. My grandfather want

ld her was that

reamed, and I'd have survived it. I'd survived worse. My uncle had

need No

nted

he wrong name. I'd wanted her every hour of every day for the last ten days. Kane didn't let me

if I pushed her, she'd run. Then the week was nearly up, and she stil

grandfather in tow, I let him. I let him see her. I let hi

hone lit up

didn't need to. I'd memorized it

ha

s No

k up twenty

was up, and her eyes were red-rimmed, and she looked like a

her and handed her a pen. "Read

legal language. I watched her pause at the number, five milli

rom her collar

ly, "and will fulfill all ordinary marital obligations for the duration of

tract," I said. "That

on't

ed. When I marry, I take it seriously. I don't cheat. I don't keep women on the side. For as long as you wear my

tared

ere I'd bitten her. I could hear it from across the

t. The kind of quiet a wo

to clause four?

entle. It cost me. "I'll never force y

n at the page

aid finally

in neat, careful letters. Nora Quinn. She p

the morning. The Council Re

mor

on't have time for an engagement." I stood. "Go ho

e door close

sat down and opened the drawer where I'd put her file ten day

g back at my door with her

old her. One thing she couldn'

just signed away o

ea that what tied us together that night was older than any

tographs anymore. Under the Old Law, an Alpha with a wolfless mate is an A

sleep in my house. She'd be p

ever know she w

back of my mind. He didn

ine years for her. I co