Handsome. Cold. Animalistic.
Even in his suit and tie and groomed to perfection, the man didn’t fool me. He’s savage and feral beneath it all. The kind of man that stops at nothing to get what he wants and that’s what I fear the most about him.
“Not nice,” I say, shaking my head. “I’ve never met a man whose eyes are so detached in all my life. And I’ve met some pretty fucked up people.”
Lila shudders. “Do you think he’ll be cruel?”
I’ve been wondering the same thing myself. Everything about him seemed forced and unnatural, as if he’s not really human.
A shudder races down my spine as I remember the way it felt when he grabbed my hips on the way down to the lake. He left small bruises I noticed when I showered earlier. I sense he’s going to be a brutal lover, which is scary, considering I’m a virgin.
The only good thing to come out of our meeting was that he doesn’t care if I want to continue my studies. “It’s difficult to say.” I shrug. “Although, he said I can continue medical school.”
“That’s good, then.” Lila sits up straighter. “As you’ve worked so hard to get where you are.”
I nod in reply, as it’s the only good thing that came out of my meeting with my husband to be. He even ruined my best dress, thinking we were being shot at when it was Thiago fucking about. I’m not sure anything else about being hitched to Adrik Volkov will be good, though.
“I wonder why Papá is waiting for two months to get you two married?” Lila asks.
I shrug. “Beats me, but I’d gladly put it off for two years.”
She chuckles. “Suggest it to Papá.” There’s a sadness in her eyes. “It won’t be too bad, though. At least you’ll stay in Chicago so we can see each other all the time.”
I shake my head. “Hopefully.” I can’t help but feel a heaviness in my chest as I’m not sure it’ll be so easy. Not to mention, at some point Lila will be married off and there’s nothing to say she’ll end up in Chicago. “He doesn’t seem like the kind of man to care what I do with my free time.” I hate how depressed this news has made me and that this is my fate, no matter what I say or do. Adrik’s expectations of our marriage were rather basic and depressing, but exactly what I expected.
You will provide me with an heir and you’ll keep out of my way most of the time.
I think keeping out of his way will be a blessing.
“It’s so unfair that Elias and our brothers get to choose who they end up with,” I say, gazing at the family photo of all of us hanging on the wall.
Lila nods. “Yeah, especially as Elias is a fucking asshole.”
I laugh at that. “Who’s this girl he’s engaged to, anyway?”
“Natalya Gurin.” She shrugs. “She’s real nice and has been bullied by Elias since he arrived at SA.” Her brow furrows. “I don’t get why she agreed to marry him.”
“Weird,” I say.
It is hard to believe that uncle agreed to their match so easily, but then Elias isn’t in line for anything. He’s behind all of us in terms of claiming the throne.
Lila jumps to her feet. “We should stop moping around and go out for something to eat.”
I arch a brow. “I’m not really feeling up to it.”
She shakes me a little. “You have two months of freedom, so you need to seize it by the balls.”
I can’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “Is that right?”
She nods. “Yep, we’re going to get something to eat and have fun.”
“And you believe Papá will allow us out at night?”
A sly smirk twists onto her lips. “Who says he has to know?”
I roll my eyes, as Lila has always been a rule breaker. I love her for it, though. “Okay, let me hop in the shower and get dressed.”
She squeaks. “You’re the best.”