Page 76 of Twisted Empire

My smile grew wider. “You said you might just have to.”

He returned my grin. “That’s right. And I still might just have to,” he repeated. “Minus the crawling part.”

Before I could respond, Elias left his chair and knelt beside mine. My eyes widened. “What—”

“Don’t say anything. Not yet,” he said. He reached into a pocket and pulled out a small black velvet box. When it opened, I was almost blinded by the enormous diamond inside.

“Tatum, I want you to belong to me completely. I want to look at your hand, see this ring, and know you’re mine forever. My wife. So will you do me the honor of marrying me?”

My hand flew to my mouth, and for a second I couldn’t breathe. “Oh my god,” I finally choked out, a tear sliding down my face. “Of course I will!”

Elias slipped the ring on my finger and got to his feet, pulling me up with him. “I love you,” he murmured in my ear, wrapping his arms around me. His voice was husky with emotion.

I would never get tired of hearing him tell me that. He could say it twenty times a day and I would still crave the sound of those words.

“I love you too. So much,” I said, my voice muffled against his chest. “I’ll always be yours.”

Two years ago, if someone had told me I’d eventually become engaged to my captor, I would’ve laughed in their face. I would’ve said there was no way. But Elias saved me. Brought me peace and security. I never thought I’d have any of that before I met him, but he’d freed me from all my old fears with his strength and devotion and given me everything I ever wanted or needed.

As strange as it may sound, belonging to him set me free.

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