ail'

and I knew she was

le. Weak. Ga

sk." I sho

ying her. You could still own her without marriage."

e owns a thing wi

yes wide as the realiz

looked up at the child as she slipped a metal

"You're a psychopath." He whispered

t the ground as she bit h

g with for years?" I muttered,

ed. "Warn

d. "Pat

at, his breath warm against my face. "S

ing my gloves. "I

ands wouldn't e

when I reached for her, her hollow eyes

," I co

nd before obeying. Good. Ther

er. The car reeked of her fear, sour and sharp

is head. "This

close, she was even more pitiful, dark circles under her eyes,

told me he wanted me to take on

sacrificial lamb that was why I

his daughter to The Reape

I mused, reaching out to trace t

d like I'd

hit you? Or was it one o

wed. "Does it matter?" She repl

pecting a respons

nt me to return th

eath h

rest

olkov Manor. Dmitri turned, his ga

I sna

d Liliana's wrist, twisting it until

uttering like a trapped

ouldn't notice?" I purred

her eyes, but

nting. I

shell of her ear. "Your father sent you to

ecame faster. "

darkened. "Tonight

car inside the manor, a

inside my domain. The scent of gunpowder from this morning's executions still hung in the a

ding gown dragging behind her like a soiled handkerchief. The fabric was thin. I coul

my voice echoing off

nees with a quiet thud. The resignation in that simple m

by the fireplace. "Looks like

silenced him instantly.

in her braid, and it was the only thing about her that looked even remotely bridal. That,

ered, stopping dire

chin with my leather-clad hand, forcing her he

ally met mine. Her expression was blank. No anger. No

ade my b

, little ghost?" I asked, ti

dn't flinch. "To die." Da

a laugh. "Good to

Talk one more time, and your h

dragging my thumb across her bottom lip. It w

f a drink from the sideboard. The crystal deca

cause your father is a coward who thinks trading h

r any reaction. Nothing. J

to the fireplace. It shattered spectacula

shoulders and shaking her hard enough that

in those dead eyes. Anger? Fear? I could

father," she whispered, her voice r

"Oh, malyshka. You give y

xpression uneasy. "Mikhail, p

ped without lookin

uched down to her level. Close enough to sme

your father, but you're u

w?" She

er forest green eyes. "And also, you can try kil

iliana stood up a

es wi

nife in her under