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“I’m not a princess,” I spit, stepping around Retsos to look the gorgeous stranger back in the face. Retsos doesn’t dare stop me. For all of his bravado, it’s clear he doesn’t want to risk a gunfight.
“I was being sarcastic,” Leonid says.
“Well, it’s not funny,” I huff.
“Agreed. So, let’s get past the jokes and get down to business. What do you want?”
The question takes me aback.
What do I want?
No one’s asked me that in a long time—not since Mama died.
“She wants peace, even if it means marrying a bastard like you,” Retsos speaks up for me when I don’t respond quickly enough.
“Is that what you want, princess?” Leonid asks. “Peace?”
No, I want to shout. I want to fight. I want a war that destroys everything. I want your head… and his.
Unable to hold Leonid’s intense gaze for long, I glare up at Retsos. There’s a strong warning in his black eyes.
Don’t fuck this up, girl… or else.
Just like that, all I can think of is Castor. His life is in my hands. After all these years of him protecting me, now it’s my turn to protect him.
But at what cost?
“Peace, I guess,” I finally manage to mumble.
Retsos visibly straightens up. All of his plans rely on pawning me off to this Russian prince. All of his power relies on peace.
All of my power depends on war. But I’m handicapped by the care I carry for the last person in this world who gives a shit about me.
“You don’t sound too confident,” Leonid says to me.
“She’s just a young girl,” Retsos responds for me. “She doesn’t—”
“Shut the fuck up,” Leonid snaps. “If I want to hear you talk, I’ll ask. Until then, let me be clear. I’m speaking to your boss.”
I can practically see the gasket break in Retsos forehead.
If he wasn’t on the brink of taking over an entire empire, he might be foolish enough to go out in a blaze of bloody violence right now.
But he manages to stop himself, and the untouchable shuts his mouth, as I manage to step further away from him, and closer to the towering figure that is Leonid Barinov.
He’s even prettier up close, and all the more loathsome. There isn’t a single ounce of warmth in his cold blue gaze. No matter how bright those eyes sparkle, I can sense only icy intent.
“You were stupid to come here,” I hear myself saying.
Fuck. What the hell is wrong with me?
“Excuse me?”
My exclamation takes even Leonid by surprise and he raises his sharp eyebrows up in disbelief. For a brief moment, the hate melts away. It’s replaced by a fiery curiosity. But that curiosity quickly turns to anger.
“I… I mean…” Stumbling over myself, I almost want to look back at Retsos for help. But I’ve dug my own grave. Me and my big mouth.
“You’re the one who sent me the letter,” Leonid sneers.
