Page 27 of Betrayal and Vows

“Around the clock?”

“Where she goes, you go.”

The coffee in my stomach curdles.

Dmitri whistles. “Damn. Bridal duty. What’d you do to piss off the boss?”

I don’t answer.

Yuri wipes his mouth.

“Where is she?” Dmitri asks.

Once again, he’s covering for me.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

I never let anything in. Nothing disturbs me. I’m ice.

But Lena burns within me.

“You will make sure shestaysengaged. No incidents. No disappearances. No drama.”

“Is she a reluctant bride?” Dmitri jokes.

To my surprise, Yuri smiles. “No more than others. Her father has some concerns.”

“Concerns?” I finally ask.

His eyes flick up to mine.

Too sharp. Too knowing.

“Her father needs the marriage. And his daughter is… willful. She’ll need a strong hand. Mikhail is happy to provide it.”

The idea of Mikhail putting hands on Lena has my back teeth grinding.

“Understood?” Yuri asks.

I nod.

“Good. She’s at the estate. You’ll be staying there.” Yuri takes a drink and then looks at Dmitri. “You too.”

He stands. Adjusts his coat. Leaves.

Dmitri leans back and exhales loudly. “Well, that’s not ominous or anything.”

I don’t respond.

I’m too busy trying to keep my breathing even.

They know.

Maybe not everything.

Butsomething.

She told me she slips away from her guards all the time. That they don’t notice. That she’s good at vanishing.