ly wanted but not this. This is the height of it. I'll not marry a

r? We can't hide it from you anymore. We need to save our company. Or I may not even have the face to

ut Mo

n we have as of now." Her mother said as h

the house and speed

babe, ho

are you? I

t heavy sniffs and tear

? I'm downtown at

kay . H

ill of her breath matching the storm inside her. "The

d anchor her to something real. He had always known the Cruz family operated in shadows,

crown of her damp hair. "You're Lily Cruz. Yo

ago-were now rimmed red, drained. "They chose Leo Kavinsky. Do you know what that means? He's not known to be a kind man a

esigner suit. Ruthless, methodical, the kind of power that didn't need to raise its voice to silence a room. K

him," Daou said, the word

stop it? Run away? They'd find me before I even

find

a flicker-something ancient an

e things we can't have

it, her fingers wou

ale lavender silk wrapped around her like a noose, cinched at the waist by a diamond belt older t

g one of Lily's earrings. "You are not a girl

the words back. But

ture can sleep

ster. He is efficient. Strategic. Powerful. I'm sorry and

er, Mother. H

voice sharpened. "And he keeps men li

y cracked, a blade sliding ou

ke that. Daou is more manly tha

"And that... is why you

hudded like a

tate, the engageme

nsky stood at the center like a king, smiling at Lily with

smooth, rehearsed.

eplied coldly. "I suppose we

ire your honesty. It's a rare qua

fr

brushing his li

ion is charm

hroat ti

d up-and

the guards, behind the curtain of people

the servant wing, dress

s only a second. But

orward. Leo ca

he warn

me

ip tig

nk of an eye D