Page 47 of Beautiful Beast

“I have no dream of it.” His gentle hands are still on my arms. “Anya, you are my wife. I have no desire to hurt your sister. I’m just being practical here.”

“I wish you’d feel something instead of doing everything because it’s ‘practical’.”

“That’s the man you married.” He holds my chair out for me, and slowly, I sit back down. He and my father retake their seats right as Viktor comes back out.

“You ok?” Nadia whispers to me.

“I will be.”

Viktor sits back down. “So, where do we stand?”

Erik looks at me, and I know what I have to do. There’s no getting Nadia out of this. There will just be some other man my father will find for her to marry if Viktor decides he doesn’t want her. I can’t put it off forever.

“I’m sorry,” I state. “I shouldn’t have done that. My sister is a lovely person. If you were to marry her, you better treat her right.”

Viktor’s eyes show no compassion. “I can tell you care for her. I don’t beat women. You should know that. And I’d be willing to call for a betrothal until Nadia is older. But I will not stand for rude and inappropriate behavior.”

“She won’t,” Father cuts in. “Anya will be on her best behavior.”

“So, shall we enjoy our meal now?” Erik asks.

My face stings too much for me to enjoy the food, but I keep my mouth shut the rest of the night. The men talk business. Viktor asks Nadia the occasional question, and she responds shyly.

Maybe he won’t be such a bad man for her.

But the thought of losing my sister causes my stomach to ache too much.

I excuse myself to the restroom, and once I’m inside, I throw up all the little bit of food I managed to eat. After cleaning myself up, I head back out and stop in my tracks when I see Erik waiting in the small alcove by the restrooms.

“Your face is puffy,” he comments, placing his finger under my chin and lifting it.

“That’s what happens when you get smacked in the face.”

“Don’t talk lightly about it. You told me your father hit you, but seeing it firsthand …” He shakes his head, and anger flashes through his eyes. “I’ll admit something to you, Anya. I’ve never felt that sort of anger in my life. I wanted to kill your father at that moment.”

I go still at his admission. I’m not even sure how to take it.

“Why didn’t you?” I whisper.

“Because I made a deal with him, and I don’t break my promises. But I also promise he’ll never hit you again. I won’t allow it.”

My throat clenches from the sudden tears threatening to spill down my face. “I don’t know what to say.”

“You don’t have to say anything.”

“Thank you,” I manage.

Erik catches my tear as it falls down and wipes it away. “I’m not a man you thank, Anya.” He leaves me alone in the alcove and heads back to the table.

All I can think is that for a moment, Erik showed a sign that maybe he has a heart after all.

Chapter

Eight

ANYA

I’m still awake when Erik joins me in our bed.

---