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“Nothing but the best for my queen.”
And he means that in the literal sense because enfolded beneath the ivory tissue paper sits a gold tiara layered with red rubies. Matching drop earrings lay close by.
“How is this supposed to remind me of who I am?” The lights catch the vivid sparkle to the jewels as if eager to hear his response also.
Alek places his hands into his pockets, taking a moment to examine me. I stand unbending while he softens. “I know tomorrow is going to be… difficult.” I scoff, unable to keep my contempt at bay. “But no matter what you think, never forget that you are now royalty. You are with me; therefore, you will always be respected and feared.”
“I don’t want to be feared,” I state defiantly.
But Alek stands firm. “You will. You will soon learn that fear gives you power.”
And the egocentric asshole I’ve come to know has returned. “Is that all this is to you? A power play?”
It’s supposed to be an insult, but it rolls off him. “No. I do what I have to, to survive. Like you.”
Touché.
But I won’t be compared to the likes of him. “We arenothingalike.”
Alek takes a step toward me, pinning me with those intense eyes. “You may think that I’m a heartless bastard, but I’m a lot nicer than others who would do anything, and I mean anything, to be on top.”
Now I’ve heard it all. “Really? Well, what have you done to get to where you are because from where I stand, you aren’t exactly the moral upstanding citizen?”
Alek turns his cheek, appearing wounded by my comment. “If you think that of me, then I’m sorry I’ve given you that impression. The people you’ll meet will soon change your mind because you’ll come to learn that I’m not the big bad wolf. Someone is always crueler. Others will sacrifice everything to be in control.”
A shiver passes over me because I suddenly don’t think Alek is speaking in hypothetical terms.
“No matter if you believe me or not, I wish you could grow to at least like me before I take what’s sacred.”
My eyes widen, and all words escape me when he brushes the back of his fingers down my cheek.
“But things are expected of me. And to remain in control, I can’t show weakness”—his eyes soften—“no matter how weak I feel when it comes…to you.”
His admission throws my mind into a tailspin, leaving me feeling…confused. He can’t actually mean it. This must be just one of his ploys to blindside me. But I see nothing but sincerity as he brushes a lock of hair behind my ear.
“If what you say is true”—I swallow down my nausea—“then you won’t go ahead with tomorrow night. You will tell all those sick, twisted bastards to leave and never come back.”
Alek sighs, his fingers gently caressing the shell of my ear. “I wish I could. But it’s too late. If I were to do that, we both would be dead.”
“I don’t understand,” I say, stepping away from his touch.
He seems saddened by the disconnection. “You will soon enough,” he replies, indicating this conversation is over with. “Please think about wearing your gift. It will make me most happy if you did.”
The box tingles in my hand.
“As much as I wish tomorrow could go a million other ways”—he pauses, inhaling deeply—“I am counting down the minutes, the mere seconds until I make you mine. I will ensure you enjoy every moment because I meant what I said.”
Swallowing deeply, I question, “You’ve said a lot of things.”
He smirks, thankfully keeping his hands to himself as he states, “You’ll be begging for me.” His comment isn’t cocky. It’s simply fact.
My cheeks heat for so many different reasons. “That’llneverhappen,” I spit, sickened by his confidence.
He shrugs, placing his hands into his pockets. “We’ll see. Stranger things have happened. Good night, ???????.”
I brace myself for a kiss or a touch, but he surprises me when he turns his back and leaves me standing like a dumbfounded fool.
The box in my hands rattles as I squeeze the sides, my body trembling in rage. The jewels stare back at me as I recall Alek’s words. All of them.
