Page 33 of Betrayal and Vows

How can I spend the rest of my life smelling the man?

I nearly whimper but tell myself to fight it.

“You think you’re clever, Lena?” he asks. His voice is low and dangerous. Goosebumps pop up on my arms. “You don’t think people are watching? You think I don’t know when my fiancée runs off in the middle of the goddamn night?”

“I just needed air,” I say quickly. “That’s all. I went to my room. Showered.”

My words are stilted and he knows I’m lying.

“A walk?” His smile is cruel. “Do you think I’m stupid?”

“No—”

“You’re not just stupid. You’renaïve.Do you think I’ll tolerate this kind of behavior when you’re my wife?”

I flinch.

Every instinct tells me to defend myself. To fight back.

I’ve seen what he does when he’s angry. He’s broken things. Men. Bones.

I will not let him break me.

So I play the role. The one they all expect. Soft. Submissive. Silly little Lena.

“I’m sorry,” I say quietly, eyes downcast. “It won’t happen again.”

“You’re right,” he says, stepping closer, hand brushing my arm. “It won’t.”

His touch crawls across my skin like rot. I shudder and he smiles. He thinks it’s his touch making me shiver with excitement.

It’s revulsion.

“From now on, you don’t go anywhere without your guard. Not for a walk. Not to the bathroom. Not to breathe. Do you understand?”

I nod.

He tilts his head, fingers gripping my chin, forcing me to look at him.

“I said—do you understand?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

He releases me. Smirks.

“I should lock you in here until the wedding.”

“You won’t need to,” I say. “I’ll stay put.”

“You bet your pretty ass you will.”

His hand slides down my arm, fingers brushing the fabric of the dress.

“You look good in white,” he murmurs. “But I can’t wait to see what you look likeoutof it.”

I freeze, stomach lurching.

I’ve managed to avoid sex with him, claiming we need to wait until our wedding night. My father and his actually agreed to that concession.