Betrothed to the Devil

study that smelled of

elves of untouched books and an ominous grandfather clock ticking steadily in the corner. A desk of

if he had never belonged anywhere else. He

hout being t

aid, folding her han

mposure-elegant but sh

s said, pulling open a drawer and retri

ed. "A queen sold into

slightly. "You've read

aid, "I've

pau

ed pages with red annotations, columns, bullet points. It wasn't a ma

x months before the marriage. After that, we fulfill all public obligations. Ap

e was de

wai

s of affection or intimac

th she didn't real

dren?" s

have no interest in heirs. My legacy do

yebrow. "And af

name intact, your family's company untouched, and f

tared

t her future lik

s business-like, yes-but detailed. He had included clauses for her

t

omething ou

ned back. "

otional

ked, su

she said, her voice quiet. "And I'll have to

adapting

"I'm just good

r for a long beat. "T

he contract. "I want

n't st

sides. If this ends-when it ends-I don't wa

without hesitation

hesi

n if this is a game to you...

urpris

d it-not as a demand, but as a final

have it,

etween them. Only t

slid a pen

ooked

at

igned her name at the

O.

.V.A

Each stroke a burial of

uest wing she'd been assigned. The sea wind was co

ryt

The man downstairs who was now

ock

soft

Intent

tu

suit but in a dark turtleneck and slacks. Still intim

xpecting yo

he replied. "It's o

m like the che

m n

sed an

art media appearances next week. My team will brief

one is

dy been dis

ened. "You ha

"You belong to this house now. You w

m, something sha

e said, her voice soft but l

dn't

d. "Even your most expensive acquis

ared

ve a si

alked

door open

, Gold cou

le over the sea. The world outside felt endless. The world ins

ye

nder layers of fear and fury,

e could su

n this game... again