VOWS OF VENGEANCE

ng the diamond-studded collar around her neck like a

ion room

s shifting around her like wolves scenting blood. It was because Elena Hart did not belong. N

e of them was g

ot 17. Strange jewel. Untouched. Educated. Trained in classical mu

t shone do

e contract. And if she broke it, her mother's hospital bills wo

courtesan. Not a plaything.

tled. She hated them. All the ma

glanced

erade mask, suit clinging to his body like it had been stitched on him. He didn't move. He

ulating. P

r began to op

llion d

hr

point

ix

hospital bed, the bills stacked like tombstones on her kitch

wd went

tered the biddin

mil

om was

red it. Not a

d not blink. "Sol

ket and passing it over to the handler in silence. Elena's

dn't k

et, s

-

smelled of lea

wrinkled from the tension in her muscles.

oved h

breath

thunderstorms over a wind-tossed ocean. Ice blue perfection. The sort of

musement, such as a ca

e, Miss Hart?" he drawled, voice as

dry as dust. "T

t didn't tou

here because

one. Models. Actresses. Virgins bathed in la

sto

nted

f it meant something, like he'd been w

you?" she

ocket a velvet box and opened it to show her a

ar

g as she held it. "Is t

t's your vow. You wear it

belong to

l. "You signed the contract. One

im. "Are you alwa

of his breath on the ear. "Only when I pos

he collar slipping

re in

rha

sion: black steel gates, cloud-touching walls, cam

and stood before he

dn't t

lena. The only choice you have now.

-

s colder than

e had not uttered a word as he led her past a hallway full of oil

ived in

Vacant.

said. "You will stay here

ned to

Her voic

sto

I address

over his

cie

-

d in the enormous bed,

t forced her. He hadn't even loo

han violence. It was restraint. Pow

idn't

armchair. Black silk. Backless. Elegant. Designe

was

M. Don't b

-

dlelight shone on silverware. Lucien sat at the head of

tered

never l

he co

e

for five minutes, an

y m

glass down. "We

ow. Why subject yourself to this?

use this was the only way

omach

er met yo

is hand down

with the silver violin. You went up on stage and embarrassed the boy who had the

lock

did

sper. "And that boy-Lucian Vale-got kicked out.

art st

o

with trembling hands, an off-tune instrument, and haunted eyes.

u'r

coldly. "I buried him. And beca

m. "You ruined m

t humiliate me, Elena. You took everything f

back. "I d

now y

diamond colla

e the year is out, you'll b