She’s mine now. Completely.

The hall is finally emptying as the last few guests murmur their goodbyes and file out, leaving behind only silence and the faint clink of glasses being cleared away by staff. Andrei lingers near the doorway, his smirk firmly in place as he watches me.

“Well, Boss,” he says, stepping closer. “Quite the event. Everything went off without a hitch.”

I nod, my gaze steady. “Efficient, as it should be.”

He chuckles, casting a glance toward Hannah, who remains stiff and silent at my side. “Now for the best part of the evening. Enjoy your wedding night.”

Hannah’s entire body tenses beside me, her hand tightening briefly on my arm before she lets it fall away.

I don’t react immediately, though I can feel her unease like a physical weight between us. My eyes flick to Andrei, who raises an eyebrow before winking, clearly enjoying himself.

“Leave,” I say, my tone calm but edged with finality.

Andrei raises his hands in mock surrender. “Of course. My work here is done. Congratulations again, Boss.” He steps back, smirking one last time as he disappears into the shadows of the hallway.

The tension between Hannah and me is palpable, her posture rigid as she stares straight ahead.

“You don’t need to look so alarmed,” I say quietly, my voice low but steady.

Her head snaps toward me, her brown eyes blazing. “Don’t I?” she demands, her tone sharp.

I grin faintly, leaning closer. “You’ll enjoy yourself tonight, Hannah,” I say, my voice dropping into something softer, almost coaxing. “I don’t force what should be freely given.”

Her eyes narrow, suspicion warring with the faintest flicker of relief. “What if I don’t want to?”

My grins widens just slightly. “Then you’ll simply sleep. No one will touch you without your consent.”

She studies me for a long moment, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I don’t trust you,” she says finally.

“You don’t have to,” I reply smoothly, turning and extending my arm again. “I don’t lie.”

After a moment’s hesitation, she takes it, her grip hesitant and light.

The night is far from over, but this is a start. A small step toward understanding.

Chapter Thirteen - Hannah

The grand bedroom looms ahead as one of Makar’s men opens the heavy double doors. My steps falter at the threshold, my gaze sweeping over the opulent space inside.

It’s massive, the vaulted ceiling stretching high above, the walls adorned with dark wood paneling and understated gold accents. A fire crackles in the hearth, casting flickering shadows across the plush furniture and the massive bed draped in satin sheets.

It’s beautiful, and suffocating.

I step inside slowly, the weight of the situation settling heavily on my shoulders. This isn’t just a room—it’s a cage. One I’ll be sharing with him.

Makar follows, his presence behind me as steady and unrelenting as the sound of his boots against the polished floor. The doors close with a soft thud, sealing us inside.

I take a deep breath, my hands curling into fists at my sides as I try to center myself. “So this is it,” I say, my voice tight.

“Yes,” he replies simply.

I turn to face him, and my breath catches at the way his piercing blue eyes are already fixed on me. His gaze is intense, unreadable, and it lingers for a moment too long. I glance away, the tension in the room thick enough to choke on.

“You’ll be staying here,” he continues, his tone calm, almost casual. “With me.”

“Indefinitely,” I mutter, the word like a bitter pill on my tongue.