I stare back at him, feeling the weight of my world crumbling all around me. I know there’s nothing I can do to fix it, but I need to know why this is happening.
I need to know what Dad did.
“What power do you have over my father to do this to us?”
“Enough to bury him.” He uses the same icy tone as before. A steel weight drops in my soul, pulling me under. “I have enough for the Knights’ Council to force him to his knees and execute him. And everyone in his family. Starting with you. One word from me, and that’s it—death.”
My heart stops like someone switched off all the power. When it starts beating again, it’s pounding faster and faster and faster, and my brain is paralyzed with terror.
Dad, what the hell did you do?
Execution?
For all of us?
Him first? No. I can’t lose my father.
I can’t.
Not that way. Oranyway.
“No. Please. Don’t let them kill him.” I’m begging with my heart and soul because this is so much worse than I thought. “Please. I’m sure he’s sorry for whatever he did. He’s not a bad person. I swear it. He’s not bad. He’s my father.”
I’m pleading with everything in me, but his icy glare tells me I’d have more luck talking to a wall.
“That means nothing to me.” Hatred radiates from Desmier’s eyes, telling me exactly how he feels about my father. I’ve never seen hate like that on anyone. It’s crippling and frightening, and making me realize that Dad must have done something terrible to him. That’s the only thing that makes sense, and explains why Dad said his hands were tied.
“What did he do to you?” My voice is barely there, but the question seems to stall him.
There’s a moment of silence when he looks like he’s contemplating an answer, then the hardness returns to his face.
“You don’t have to worry about that now.”
“But I should know.”
The mocking smirk comes back and he leans in again, his chest brushing over my nipples—a reminder that I’m naked.
“Believe me, princess, it’s best you don’t know. So do not ask me again.” He moves back and his eyes drop to my lips then float down to my heaving breasts. Lust—more intense than at the wedding—ignites when he looks back up at me. It’s too much. Too intense. Too overpowering. “All you have to worry about is pleasing me. You will do as you are told andwhenyou are told. Fuck with me, and I won’t hesitate to punish your father, or you. You understand?”
I nod slowly, looking away from him.
Quickly, he catches my face and guides it back to his. “Look at me and tell me you understand.”
“I understand.”
“Good girl. Now you can get yourself ready for our wedding.”
My God.No. “Our wedding?” I can barely get the words out.
“Yes, Valkyrie. In five weeks, you’ll be my wife.”
ChapterSix
Desmier
By the gods, Anastasia Sidorov is fucking beautiful.
I don’t know how the fuck I’m standing over her perfect naked body with her tits looking as ripe as they do and managing to restrain myself.