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“What…?” I can hardly wrap my mind around that one.
Did he just manage to question my honor and blame me for his decision all in the same breath?
“Let me make this clear since you don’t seem capable of keeping up. You’remine, Silvia. You’re my fucking property. Nothing more. It doesn’t matter that I don’t want to marry you. I’ll follow through with it because that’s my duty. And in the meantime, I’m here to make sure no one else tries to take what belongs to me.”
His lips are so close to mine that my skin starts to tingle. My body’s lingering attraction doesn’t seem to catch up to my new sense of hurt and betrayal. But his words cut deep. For months, I’d felt like things might actually work out. That I could be okay with my father selling me off. But everything I’d thought to be true, everything I’d been dreaming about since our first dinner together. It had all been a lie.
He doesn’t want me.
He’snotmy prince charming.
And we sure ashellare not going to live happily ever after.
I’ve been trying to see the bright side of an arranged marriage. And for a moment in time, I actually believed Pyotr and I might be a decent match. I thought that, even if New York was hundreds of miles from everyone I love, I might be okay if I had Pyotr by my side.
And suddenly, it comes into perfect clarity. I’m marrying the monster I’d once imagined he could be. Only worse, his deceptively good looks gave me no warning as to the beast within.
Pyotr stands to his full height, leering down at me. “What? Does that hurt your feelings, Little Princess?” he asks. “Stop being so naive. Life’s not some big fairy tale. I’m not some fucking knight in shining armor here to sweep you off your feet. I’m stuck with you. Because that’s what’s expected of me. I’m marrying you for my family. That doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
“You are such an ass!” I hiss, fighting the angry tears that spring to my eyes.
Pyotr chuckles darkly. “At least I’m not some meek little snot who expects the men in her family to make everything right and perfect while she mopes about life’s inequities. How about this? You promise to hold up your end of this deal and stay out of my way, and I’ll leave you be. We can just go about our separate lives for the next three years and enjoy our remaining freedom before we’re stuck together for the rest of our lives.”
“That sounds like the best idea you’ve had all day,” I snap, glaring up at him with renewed hatred.
“Good.”
“Fine,” I agree, crossing my arms defensively over my chest.
Pyotr rolls his obnoxiously beautiful eyes and brushes past me, moving swiftly away.
Standing frozen for several seconds, I fight to get my emotions under control before I glance over my shoulder at him.
He stalks across campus with a gait I hadn’t realized was so pompous until this very moment. God, he doesn’t know how lucky he is that Nico wasn’t around to witness that. Pyotr would have been dead the second he looked at me wrong.
I feel bad the moment I think it. I don’t like the violent side my father drilled into my oldest brother since before I was born. How Cass and Lucca managed to turn out differently, I don’t understand. Then again, I supposed my father’s intense training would either turn someone into a lethal weapon or make them abhor violence–which the twins do on principle.
I suppose, in that regard alone, I’m lucky to be a girl. My father never forced me to learn how to kill a man. Of course, Nico doesn’tknowI know about his violent side. He wants to shelter me from that side of the family. To let me see him as the adoring and protective brother who can do no wrong. But to me, even with the violence, he’ll always be that.
I just don’t want to be another person in Nico’s life that asks him to sell his soul.
Sighing, I turn my attention toward the art building in front of me. Putting on my best face, I adopt a smile, though my feet feel like blocks of concrete. Climbing the steps, I enter through the heavy double doors and find my classroom.
“Okay, who was the hunk you were just talking to outside? And why haven’t you told us about him?” Travis demands as soon as I plop down at the sculpting table where he and Emily sit. His scolding voice is tinged with playful jealousy.
“Ihavetold you about him, Travis,” I say, trying to keep my tone light.
“Do you recall any mentions of secret lovers or dashingly handsome Rosehill students our Silvia’s been dating, Em?” Travis asks, directing his gaze pointedly at Emily.
Emily twirls her honey-blond bob around a finger. “Hmm. Not that I can think of.” Then she levels an accusatory look at me with her deep-brown eyes.
“You two are ridiculous. He isnotmy lover, and we arenotdating. That’s who I’m being sold off to in three years. You know, the one my father plans to ship me off to marry in New York.”
Travis’s blue eyes twinkle. “And you have the balls to soundupsetabout it? Because what I just heard is that the gorgeous piece of meat who was eye fucking you outside is not only some version of a Russian mafia prince but also yourfiancé. Tie me up and spank me sideways, but that sounds like a dream come true to me.”
I laugh despite myself, grateful for Travis’s outlandish humor. I can’t bring myself to contradict him, to say how horrible Pyotr just was to me. Or that the man I’ve been blabbering about all summer is actually a total dick.
I’m still reeling from the realization. Once I wrap my head around my new reality, I can decide what to do about it.
