uneral, not your own engagement pa
g to my curves like a second skin. The fabric was silk, expensive, and
ting his eyes in the reflection. "F
rossed. "You agreed to this, Sera. At least prete
a decided. You all nodded along. Now I have t
Don in his black suit. "Keep your head up tonight. The families are watching. De
d to fa
d off. The least you can do is l
ug. "If he says one wrong word, I'm d
" I muttered, but I hugged him back anyway
tal chandeliers, dark suits, beautiful women in diamonds, and the heavy scent of money m
ing through the crowd. Heads turned. Whispers followe
y. R
hers stayed close, scanning the room like wolves. Papa
e air c
again. A hush fel
as h
ndro D
ding nothing and everything at once. His dark hair was perfectly styled, jaw sharp enough to cut glass. But his eyes... G
et across
ond, I waited for something. Recognition. Anger. Any
't nod. Didn't even a
I was furniture. The crowd parted for him. Women stared. Men nodde
ood b
ing waiter and downed half of it in one go
"Want me to go break
muttered. "But
elbow. "Easy, Sera.
er like the rest of the party bored him. His broad shoulders stretched the silk of his jacket. Eve
This man looked like he could kill witho
thers could stop me. My heels clicked across the marble floor.
ht beside him
I said, voice
hen finally looked at me. Those dead eyes swept over my face,
was deeper now, rough like gravel. It
. "Twelve years and you walk past me like I'm a stranger
he was overwhelming. Tall. Broad. That scent. Sandalwood a
liance," he said col
ard. You think I want this any more than you
ckered in his eyes. Too fas
could hear. "Then we both do what we have to.
ream. Instead I lifted my chin and m
o. Go back to whatever hel
with firm fingers. His touch burned. Rough. Possessive for half a seco
e, Serafina. You
othing and turned back to the ba
where he'd touched me, rage and some
word, leaving me standing alone
ing toward me, but I he
only the
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