ra'

Lucien Devereux, he d

throne...shoulders square, fingers folded neatly in front of

creamed control, wealth, and danger. And when I stepped into

cent said, his voice smooth

ally turne

eyes were sharp, almost cruel, and so dark the

ed coat I borrowed from a neighbor, the nervous grip I h

do," h

was

handshake. Not e

ing the urge to leave. But I couldn't. Not

across from Lucien. "Sit, Amir

onto the leather chair. It felt

of me. The contract. My eyes scanned

s about responsibilities, appearanc

ed silent as

'll attend public events, live together, and act as hus

d mysel

year, the marriage ends. You'll receive the full f

a shaky

?" I aske

s have been handled. Your brother is safe and already

I almost cried. I kept my face

That was all

" I said, my

Good. Then let's

cien's. My heart thudded with every stroke. This wasn't

ood witho

by the door. "Julien will take you to t

" I b

r we get this over with, the better." He didn't ev

**

h the streets of the city in a sleek black

um of the car's engine was the only thing keeping me grounded, but

d I jus

that naïve-but my name, my future, my peac

ho was practically a stranger. A man who looked

wer, I swallowed hard. The building touch

run small errands-always looking up, always wonde

as one

got out. The door opened for me, but I hesitated before step

s we ascended in the elevator, I glanced at the mirrored w

a little fancy, but still something I could handle.

it belonged in a movie. Marble floors, tall windows, chandeliers, and fu

d edges, the polished black wood of the shelves, th

d there, feeling like I had wa

t belon

l polish. The walls seemed to whisper that I was just a

I heard

from what I assumed was his office. He looked

made me feel even smaller. His dark eyes fixed on me, hard

sn't an expression of kindness or warmth. I

d door on the left," he said, his

t I'd be staying in your room.

cker of surprise crossed his features, but it was gone before I could be sure. He too

ce low and sharp. "I don't want you near me mo

ng. They felt personal, even though I knew they weren't meant to be. I clenched

d you at home?" My voice came out firmer than I

a little, like he was toying wit

I was already trapped in this marriage, already locked into his world. And yet,

e words spilling out before I could stop them. "Is this some dre

ened, but I w

her. Not for some fairytale where we fall in love and live hap

ed your affection, your approval, or your attent

sides as if restraining himself. His eyes narrowed,

voice like ice. "Le

he hallway, still trembling from the outburst. The door clicked s

d made it clear that I wasn't here for him, and he wasn't here for me. This marriage wa

something else lingered between us. It was like an invisible thread,

his control slipped, when something inside him reacted to

hink about it. Not now. Not

room he had directed me to, my foo

tepped inside, greeted by the cold, impers

sheets a rich shade of charcoal. Everythin

trying to calm the rush of emotions bubbling insi

sake o

y bro