Total pages in book: 28
Estimated words: 27474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 137(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
“I love him. I’ll do anything for him.”
Clenching his jaw, he nods. “Then you can understand how much I love you.”
I can’t deny it, can’t contest it, and I can do nothing to change how he feels.
“Apparently, not enough to do the decent thing.” Bitter accusation strains my voice. “So do it. Tell them the truth.” I raise my chin. “I’d rather lose my title than betray Sebastian.”
Because anything involving Liam would be the ultimate betrayal. No other man in the Brotherhood gets to Sebastian like the chancellor does.
“You don’t know what you’re saying.” Liam closes his eyes, as if he can’t believe I’m willing to sacrifice such a thing. “I don’t think you’ve thought this through.”
“I have,” I say, hating that he’s right—I haven’t processed anything yet.
“No, you haven’t, because if I tell the Brotherhood about your bloodline, they’ll void the contract, and there won’t be an auction.”
“I never wanted an auction!”
“No, but you want Sebastian.” His words erupt between us, leaving the ash of truth thick in the air. “Need I remind you he’s not allowed to marry a descendant of Evangeline Castle?”
“But that’s why Landon wants to change—” The realization strangles the rest of my sentence, and I gape at Liam in mounting distress.
My brother needs Liam’s vote to make marriages within the houses allowable.
I need his vote.
Rendered speechless, I force my mouth shut as icy fear chokes me. There’s no way out of this, and Liam knows it.
“You think I wanted it to come to this?” Stepping away from the door, he throws his hands in the air. “I kidnapped you rather than stop the auction. The last thing I wanted was for you to lose your title. But now that I know your life’s in danger, doing the unthinkable doesn’t seem so bad. Your uncle will no longer pose a threat to you, and I can make sure you’re taken care of.”
“Then why don’t you just do it and get everything you want?” I launch my fury at him, my soul seething.
“Because you love him, damn it!” On the heels of his outburst, he stares at me for several moments, his chest rising and falling too fast. “Breaking your heart will only break mine.”
“Liam…” My anger deflates. “Please. You don’t have to do this. They’ve already agreed to let you be a proxy.”
He shakes his head, turning quiet and contemplative for a moment. “Maybe you need some time to think about it,” he says, letting out a breath. “I’ll vote in favor for now, and if you accept my condition on your birthday, I’ll do everything I can to make sure the auction goes the way you want it to.” With a sideways glance toward the living room, he frowns. “But if you tell anyone, especially Sebastian, the deal is off.”
“I can’t keep this from him.”
“You can tell him after the auction.”
I gape at him, too conflicted to say anything as he opens the door.
“I’ll ask Sebastian to give you a minute so you can pull yourself together.” Liam stares at me a few seconds too long, the hard glint in his eyes softening a bit, and I think he might change his mind.
But then he steps into the hall, and the door shuts on his back, smashing my hope to dust.
4
Ten minutes later, my cheeks dry, rocky emotions on lockdown, I exit the bedroom and find the cottage empty, save for Sebastian. He turns to face me, and one glance into his sea-colored eyes brings me to a halt.
Taking a page from Liam’s book, Sebastian paces an invisible rut into the sandstone floor, though instead of quietly expending excess energy, he stomps like the lion he is.
Caged and furious and sexier than sin in his disheveled state.
“Where did everyone go?” I ask, my voice a little higher than usual.
“They left.” A heavy beat passes. “Right after Liam gave his vote.”
“He voted in favor?”
Fury thunders across his face. “You already know the answer to that, don’t you, princess?”
I suck in a breath. “Why are you mad at me?”
“I’m not mad at you. I’m furious with him.” His teeth clench. “What was his condition?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Yes, you can.”
“He swore me to secrecy.”
“I won’t say a word.”
A bitter laugh escapes me. “You won’t be able to keep this to yourself. You’ll have him by the throat in a heartbeat.”
His eyes narrow. “What the hell was his condition, Novalee?”
“I can’t tell you!”
“Did he threaten you?” He takes a step toward me, his question trampling right over my protest.
“It doesn’t matter what he did or didn’t do. It’s done, okay?” As soon as the words leave my mouth, I realize I’ve already accepted Liam’s terms, because the alternative is unthinkable. “We can be together now.” My voice cracks, and I curse my inability to exude calm.
He’s across the room and pulling me against him before I take my next breath. “You’re crazy if you think I’m going to let you shoulder this on your own.”