k wood shelves of military histories and law books. The air was cold,

into a crystal glass, and didn't offer her one. Leaning against the ma

?" His voice was quiet

ne into me. Your sister accused me of destroying your bloodline

sister to force my hand in public. A clever move, I'll g

demanded an explanation for the empty nursery. I me

ightened arou

ded, "you should reconsider the decisi

out steeped in sarcasm. He pushed off the desk and walked toward her,

gain." He paused, his stare narrowing. "However, Adeline, one th

rdened into an

"fortify her constitution," which she'd drunk obediently in her past life, believing

she

darkened. "That

n answer open t

u do not want a child. There is no medical reason for me to drink

kin, forcing her to look at him. His face was inches from hers, eyes devoid of warmth. "I do not care

ssure i

nd deliberate, "if you somehow become p

riage. Adeline remembered the blood-soaked sheets, the weakness that had left her unable

guish some hidden hope. It confirmed what she already knew. Kian did not regard her body as her own. Whether he

ekly tonic. His direct order. His threat against a

or cry. She looked d

, "while secretly drugging your wife and thr

ip tig

ling it your authority

ace c

about what is ne

o claims to despise his wife is so desperate to govern her womb. E

moment, he h

r. Kian's head snapped toward it

age from Miss Vance's maid. Miss Vance was frightened by the earl

le. Of

on, replaced by open concern. He released Adeline's chin as thou

there," he sa

, focus already gone, alr

id. "Your cousin has summoned you. I would hate for a threat

pped bes

ith warning, but the mockery ha

ment he had been threatening to control her body by force; the next, he

after he was gone. The dull ache in her jaw w

ss. Kian believed the locked door, the medicine, and the threat had p

rch would hesitate to challenge him. And

uld go abov

e in person, use every piece of knowledge she had carried back from her first l

her body a

e his threat