ra'

heavily in the air, even though he had left hours ago. I should have been sleeping, but the night had been long and restless. Ev

e. Damien's last words had been clear, and no matter how hard I tried t

want to believe it. I couldn't. There had to be a way out of this. I had to find a

t a shiver through my body, but I didn't care. I needed to think, and I needed

me was a stranger. My hair was tangled, and my eyes were red from lack of sleep. I barely

r broke my train of

e called from the other s

ne who was under Damien's command, made my stomach churn. But I couldn't just sit here all day.

ally called back, my voice soundi

rs, determined to act like I hadn't just spent hours staring a

en's

I had spent the morning reviewing business matters-meetings with the families, the transa

need her to speak. Not yet. What I needed was for her to understand that th

legant, and too quiet for my liking. I had made sure to keep things pristine, even if the h

d barely spoken to me last night, but I knew her well enough to understand she

she finally entered, her footsteps light and hesitant. She was dressed sim

he sat down across from me, her fingers

y voice smooth and even,

r gaze sharp but g

ried to act unaffected. It was clear she was struggling, but she refused to show w

y. She wasn't going to make this easy, I knew that. But I d

y tone casual, as if we weren't sitting ac

ble. "I slept fine," she replied, but I could see the way her

ar from ideal. But it didn't matter. She had no choice. She wou

finally spoke, her voice

I paused, looking at her with a

arified. "Out of all the women

nswer. There were a hundred reasons, but none that would make sense to h

" I said, my voice low. "You're the one w

atisfied with my answer.

g. "Sometimes, there are no answers

shing the food around her plate. The silence between us fe

ize that this is for your own good. Marrying me will p

rotection? I don't need your pr

eplied, my voice taking on a more serious

ips pressing into a thin li

fixed on her. "You will. W

u can force me into a marriage, Damien, but you can't m

anger, but it wasn't indifference either. I had never been one to care about love, not in the way she

m the table. "I can't make you love me. But I c

ed and left the room, leavin

ra'

in my mind. My heart was still pounding in my chest from our exchange. Every word

ld out? He was right about one

way. The cold, calculating gaze that seemed to strip me of everything. He w