Ruthless Ties

g to the pain and anger weighing upon her heart. Words of gold carved over an elegant invitation in her hands were

A Night of Eleg

e out was why the man whom she loved with all her heart betrayed her

mns draped in silk. Elara stepped out, her scarlet gown clinging to her body, swaying

ctor-the man who had promised her forever but had instead traded her i

maze of deception. The music fluttered through the atmosphere, the violins chantin

" A waiter extend

ered, reaching for and

his smirk well evident even behind the silver mask. He had a glas

belly as memories of his lies scratching

" she whispered

tall, broad-shouldered man loomed in front of her, his face shrouded in shadows. An arresting

r voice low and furiou

y, rich, and dangerous. "You certainly seem

ss," she said shortly, tugg

a beautiful woman storms into a masquerade with f

she demanded,

s curved into a sl

er flare

a brow. "Hardly becoming of

n her stomach.

ond too long. "But I'll give you an option: go and yell at him an

undeniable, fastening her to this man. The room blurred. Vic

voice a dark promise. "No nam

but her body betrayed her. Eve

I trust you?

d, taking her hand agai

ed. Then, as if possessed by

lvet curtains into a private suite above the ballroom. City

ed shut, silence

be here," s

," he whispered b

, his fingers grazing her cheek. Slowly, he lif

u'r

inished, his gaze

r face, his thumb tracing the curve of her jaw. Her heart r

lasped so tightly-fingers knotted through his hair-while he laid his mouth on hers

e dark; skin met with skin, night unraveling in that s

erate, shared, bounding two strangers tog

w, Elara stirred, aches of her body the most delicious. T

he flood

ifled a gasp. Thick black h

ing. Her clothes were scattered everywhere

trembling hands, getting dressed as fast as possible. She eve

her hand throwing one

s," she

him with only memories of the n