He released her wrist, seeming to enjoy the way she imm

id, his voice a low rasp. "Then you should

making it hard to breathe. But beneath the terror, a des

. The sight made her stomach clench, and

and wounded, quickly masked by a wave of fury. "What? Not what you were expecting?" he snarl

rame blocking any chance of escape. Trappe

moved him, but it gave her a precious second. She darted for the door, her h

came from right behind her, a

avy wood, a desperate, useless rh

ody. She could smell the faint scent of whiskey on his breat

ear. He grabbed her shoulders, his grip bruising, and spun her

of the damaged skin, the way it pulled at the corner of his

The order was quiet, but hel

were dark, intense, and filled with a cold rage. But beneath the

er mind-pale and still in a hospital bed, kept alive

If she ran, her

ater, extinguishing the flames of her pani

y a grim, chilling calm. The shift was so

Her voice still trembled, but a

keptical eyeb

e." Alaina took a deep breath, forcing herself to hold his gaze.

ou?" he s

lders. "I do need money. But not for mys

, to lay her cards on the t

make a deal. A marr

er of interest

ly and the public. And I get what I need-the money

e lives. We will not interfere with each other. I will play the part of Mrs. Carlisle in public, and you ca

eassessing her, surprised that the terrified creature from momen

s lips. "That's... interesting." He took a step closer, his shadow falling over h