Page 78 of Until the Stars Fall

Indignantly, she crossed her arms in front of her, and for the first time since I’d entered, I noticed my mother’s ring on her hand. It seemed to fit her perfectly, and I wasn’t entirely sure how I felt about that.

“I thought you were taking me to breakfast,” she said.

“Not exactly.” Before she could protest, I stood and gestured to the dining table in her room. “You’re not quite ready to be presented—”

“Presented,” she repeated, her nose wrinkling in distaste. “Like a prize cow?”

“Something like that. Though I do appreciate you wearing the ring.”

Surprisingly, she ignored that comment—as if she didn’t want to even acknowledge the jewelry at all—and asked, “So I’m to be confined in here then?”

I stepped toward her, invading her space. Her sweet scent—combined now with the aroma of vanilla and roses—teased my senses, and I struggled not to pull away from it. If I was to pull this off, I’d need to at the very least be able to stand close to her.

Woo her.Matthias’s words smacked me upside the head.

She didn’t need to fake any attraction to sell our engagement, but it certainly would make it easier. Maybe I could just ask her to pretend to like me, but given her propensity for stubborn defiance, winning her attraction for real might prove easier.

Stars, this was humiliating.

Awkwardly I dropped my gaze to her lips before finding her eyes again. At least we didn’t have an audience. Yet. Matthias would no doubt be guffawing like an idiot if he were here now witnessing my piss-poor acting.

Lieke stiffened slightly but lifted her breasts higher so I was forced to notice them. I swallowed hard, willing my body not to react. Clearing my throat, I leaned forward slightly and whispered, “Are these rooms not adequate for my bride?”

Her glare sharpened. “They’re fine.”

“Good,” I said, straightening.

“For now,” she mumbled and seated herself at the table, crossing one leg daintily over the other and smoothing her dress over her lap. “So where is this—”

A knock at the door echoed through the room.

“My bride is so impatient,” I teased.

“Only when I’m being held hostage.” She shot me a haughty look much like the one she’d given me in the guest room last week, and my nerves pulled tight, igniting the anger I had hoped would stay dormant at least for the morning. I was trying—trying so hard—to remain civil and kind, and yes, to coax some hint of affection out of her, but she was apparently intent on irking me.

Another knock came at the door, and Lieke opened her mouth, presumably to invite the visitor in. I dropped my hands to the table and leaned in close, so close that her racing heartbeat thundered in my ears.

“Lieke, you are no hostage here.” Her mouth opened, but I snatched up her jaw in my hand, startling her and cutting off any potential protest. My anger grumbled low in my chest, begging to be unleashed, to show her how life as a hostage would actually be, but I couldn’t let it take over. Not now.

Still, she needed to understand. I was not her enemy.

But my rage pushed my voice into a growl. “You are free to go. I won’t stop you. But without me, the gallows are all that await you.”

Her blue eyes hardened, and for a moment I worried she might truly hate me so much she would choose death. She remained silent, though, even as she yanked her head out of my grasp.

As I walked to the door, I took a steadying breath, trying to calm my temper. I opened the door to find one of the staff waiting in the hallway, holding a large, covered tray. She dipped her chin to me, and I ushered her inside. Lieke seemed to flinch as the female carried in the food, but I brushed it off as I turned to leave.

“Are you not staying?” Lieke asked me, sounding almost nervous, but I didn’t care. Not when she insisted on being so ungrateful.

“I’ll be back later,” I called over my shoulder and shut the door behind me.

Matthias eyed me curiously as I dropped into the chair in front of his desk. “You’re here earlier than I expected,” he said.

“Don’t ask,” I grumbled. “What did you want to talk about?”

He studied me for a bit before his expression twisted with concern. “Sure you don’t need to talk about her?”

I scowled but said nothing.

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