Leora, but the warmth did little

his fingers drummed slowly against the armrest of his

nside her chest. She had walked into the den of the man her fat

ick asked at last, his voice low and deliberate. "A contract

offering," Leora replie

er face, as if trying to pe

ne he won't touch," she sa

f Allerick's mouth. "Flattery

s truth. He crippled you, and he kn

st for a moment. Then it hard

s bait? Hand you over with a ribbon around

Because I'm more valu

s ones. But she coul

ghtly. "You think you're a

now

e guards shifted near the doo

edge of a blade. "You want to marry me. Live in my house

ection. And in return, you get something no one else has,

harsh sound that echo

," he said. "I'l

wed. "Then y

N

hit her l

chair slicing the air. "Not until I hear everything.

hesi

ra. You want me to risk war for you? Then stri

y father is forcing me

ow lifted in

asking me. Told me I was to smile, obey, and become a trophy. Adam is crue

gers stilled o

like that," she said.

do?" Allerick

rry Adam or spend the rest of my life locke

adly silen

an," h

" she w

s temple. "So you thought running to your f

t have a

he replied. "You just pic

firm despite the quiver beneat

iant eyes, her clenched jaw, the tremble

ified. And s

terms?"

no

ard with a flick of his fingers. "Bring

breath

enter my world, there's no turning back. You'll be mine in name, sight, and

t," she

didn't reach his

, the contra

lerick's personal attorney. The man was clinical, efficient, a

after that period, both parties consent, marriage may be annulled or continued. Public appearances r

rt pounding. Allerick sig

e," Salva

up at Alleric

"you move in. St

othing like the gi

overlooking the edge of the forest. Cold, but strangely pe

erstand what she'd just done. Married, in name, to

rt of her f

ther's puppet. No longer

a knock at

g. When she opened it, s

omorrow, you'll act like my wife in front of my men. You'll eat at my

a no

he added, voi

es

ever find out you're lying t

is gaze.

at longer, then tur

and leaned against

only the