eling myself for the performance ahead. I was re

the door open, the

t was o

te dress that clung to her frame, deliberately emphasizing the swell of

ar sick in the back. Y

me. His grip was tight on the wheel as he started the engi

na," he said, his voi

heartbeat, the humiliation burning

the

the

gated to the back se

hroat, I climbed in silentl

a slow, suffoc

lew directly on Sofia. When we hit a bump, his hand shot

y?" he asked

placing her hand over his. "Y

s

y. With one plural pronoun, she was e

h the scent of cigar smoke and expensive, cloying

king with his chosen queen. I trailed b

mmediately, cutting th

ing in diamonds hissed behi

whispered, her eyes hungry for scandal. "That's

sacrificed my reputation to protect Sofia's illegitimacy. He had

of sparkling water like a lifeline. I didn't drink alcohol

ey were Sofia's friends-hyenas in

ad to toe. "Enjoying the party? It must be hard,

ping my voice steady as

ed, blocki

tilting her glass with

blue dress. It soaked into the silk instan

aughed, the sound

s giggled

uttered under her brea

snapped. The tether

id, my voice low and vibr

pping closer. "You'll cry to Dant

but we were standing by the decorativ

aught on

t empty air, too weak

kward into

silk of my dress dragging me down like an anchor. For a sec

eaceful

s hauled to the surface, gasping for air

He was soaking wet, his expensive su

The entire hall was sta

tered to his forehead, and his eyes wer

to the gro

ed, the sound echoing o

, terrified by the mo

mmered, her face draining of color.

oked dow

w the bruising on my forehead where I must have str

jacket and wrapped it aro

ap. "Even if she is barren, even if she carries the shame of th

s a d

was t

, not my honor. He confirmed

and carried me toward the exi

ispered, my teeth c

against my ear. "You

t the back of the hall and du

room, water dripping from h

elled, running a hand through his wet h

my voice hollow. "By reminding them

and for a second, the anger faded,

by is born... once the Russians are deal

o late,"

ut to touch my wet hair. His finger

old," he

ld for a long

't fight him. I just lay there, soakin

t he was

lize I had al

him awa

d, turning my face away. "Go b

ena

G

ood up. He left me shivering in the safe

il I heard t

ooling at my feet, and w

axi on the s

driver the addre

n't g