“No. This is the contract you would sign.” She slid a piece of rich linen paper across the desk. “Read it for yourself.”
So I did. The writing was very angular, the ink rusty, and I could smell that it was blood. My eyes went right to the bottom, where King Lucian Ro?u’s elegant signature rested on the line labeledgroomwith the wordproxyneatly printed next to it.
Flicking my eyes to the top of the document, I read it thoroughly, but quickly since there were only a couple of paragraphs. They said in lawyer-speak exactly what Arabesque had outlined, even mentioning that both parties needed to be of legal age and willing participants.
And not one mention of consummation,I thought with relief as I laid the contract back on her desk.
“Why did the king sign as the groom’s proxy?” I asked at last.
“I imagine he’s still deciding which of his sons he can trust with your precious self.” She waved a hand languidly, as if it didn’t matter.
And I suppose it doesn’t in the long run, I thought.Whoever it is will be a pawn as much as myself.
If I did this…
If I did this, I would have to live with a stranger, a male vampire, for a year, and I had no idea what that would look like. My knowledge of the supernatural world was limited to the stories Mama told me from her life in the Royal pack and the single grimoire Papa had, which featured growing and harvesting spells more than species profiles.
Still, it could be months or even years before I found another escape route. I couldn’t wait that long. Not for myself or Josslyn or Brumous. We needed out of herenow, before Eluned and Amabel’s taunts about giving me to the rogue wolves became fact.
Be brave. You can survive anything for a year if it means freedom in the end.
“I have conditions before I agree.”
“What are you talking about?” Arabesque’s eyes narrowed slightly, the only sign of her surprise. “Conditions? You are in no position to requestconditions.”
“I demand them, not request them.” I swallowed my fear and tilted my chin up. “Josslyn will be handed over to the werewolf king. He can find her a good home, with parents who can love and protect her.”
“You would dare to take my child from me?”
“She deserves to be safe, to have a chance at a life free fromthis.” I gestured vaguely to the room, the estate, the entire oppressive world Arabesque had built around us. “Fromyou.”
Her expression didn’t change, but I could see the wheels turning in her mind. She was calculating, weighing the benefits and drawbacks, and how she could renege on any agreement we made.
“Very well. I will allow that.”
I felt a surge of relief, but I wasn’t done yet.
“And Brumous comes with me.”
“Who?”
“Brumous. The dire wolf pup you tortured until he was stunted,” I reminded her with a frown.
“Oh.That. Why would you want it?” Her upper lip curled in disgust.
“Why does it matter? Just know that I won’t leave him behind.”
“Fine.” She fluttered her fingers at me. “That is no great loss. He was doomed to die regardless.”
“There’s more.” I took a deep breath, my hands trembling as I clenched and unclenched them, trying to keep my nerve to see this through.
“Go on.”
“You will provide a reliable and comfortable vehicle and a driver who will obey me from the moment I leave this house until I step foot onto my new husband’s property. That will include a stop at the wolf king’s palace. You will arrange an audience for me to meet him and hand Josslyn over to his care.”
“You’re quite bold today, child. I didn’t know you had it in you anymore.” Anger glinted in her eyes. “I thought I’d snuffed out every ember of your fire.”
“I’m not asking for much. Just the chance to protect those I care about. Finally, my last demand. You yourself will not initiate contact with either me or Josslyn ever again.”
