“I cannot lose you,” he whispered.
She snatched back her hand. She twisted the betrothal ring around and around her finger, breathing heavy. Then, she met his gaze.
“Have I left?” she asked.
“No.” But her voice was strangely, chillingly flat.
“Have I asked you to leave?”
“No.” They remained together. But at what cost?
“My reputation—and Julia’s future—are still at stake.” She folded her hands in her lap and lifted her chin. “I refuse to free you from your obligation.”
Hisobligation? Warning bells. Hellhounds. Everything cried out in one, grand cacophony.
“You hate me.”
“Indeed, I do,” she replied with a careless tilt of her head. “However, I’ve been stripped of dignity one too many times.” She narrowed her eyes. Every ounce of the compassion he admired had vanished. “You will marry me tomorrow.”
Shock wrapped a wild vine around his lungs.
“You will marry me,” she lifted her brows, “and you will. Or you will be exposed.”
“Exposed?” he repeated, stunned. “Are you threatening me?”
“I don’t need threats.” She pinned him with a soulless stare. “I have blood.”
He saw the wound, but he had no power to stem the bleeding. He’d cut her to the quick, and she’d bleed until they both drowned. What had she become?What have you made her?
“I will hold up my end of the bargain.” She spoke as if they were discussing something as mundane as a midday meal. “You will be permitted—with notice—into my bed. Until, that is…” Her bravado failed and her lower lip trembled. She stilled it with her teeth. “Until you have your heir.”
“Katherine—”
She held up her hand.
“I cannot bed you,” he said. “Not knowing you hate me.”
“But you would have bed me, knowing I was in complete ignorance of your true intentions.”
He ran his hand through his hair, wincing with self-loathing.
“If conscience permanently tames your cockstand, I am not to blame, am I?” She steadied herself on the mantel and stood. “This was once my favorite room.” She looked down in disgust. “I have you to thank for its ruin.”
“Pleaseforgive me, Kate,” he whispered. “I swear I have changed.”
“How can you ask me to understand, to forgive? You just told me you would not have forgiven me, if you hadn’t needed my blood. And, if it were not for Rayne, would you ever have told me the truth?”
He rose to his knees. “It was not my secret to reveal.”
She folded her arms over her chest. “Protecting your mother, were you?”
Blood filled his cheeks.No.He could not hide his answer from his eyes. Katherine snorted in disgust and then turned away.
He scrambled to his feet. “My mother warned me not to begin a marriage on false pretense.”
Katherine swiveled. “She knew about your plan?”
“Not until after I bought your ring.” His gaze fell to the floor. “Prior to that, I hadn’t spoken to her since…”
