I lie in bed with Alena, our fingers still locked together. I hear her breathing level out and know she’s finally fallen asleep. I roll over and look at my little sister, feeling like everything is going to be okay with her. Her future husband might seem like a jerk, but I saw something else there, too. He wants her and he wants her to want him back. He craves her attention, and I know that he will try to please her to get it. I also know that he will protect her. It was adorable how he worried about her hurting herself in her heels.

More than that, I know her better than anyone else does, and she’s curious about him. Even if she doesn’t fully know it or understand it. Something about him is drawing her in, too. I saw it when she started to panic at the thought of me trying to catch his eye. I don’t think anyone but her could ever garner his attention. He couldn’t pull himself away from her long enough to know other people were in the room.

A few times through dinner people would try to talk to him, but it was like he couldn’t hear them. I’m not sure how I noticed, with the way Vlad was teasing me though. Something about his playful yet dominant personality makes me want him more and more. I had to bite the inside of my mouth to keep from smiling multiple times during our meal. He likes to tease me, and I liked when he did it. More than I ever thought possible.

It was different than I’m accustomed to. A lot of men have asked for my hand in marriage. But it’s not that way with Vlad. He declared that I was his, and that was that.

Still, I worry. I hope that what Vlad said is true and I can go with them. It all seems too good to be true. The thought of him has me smiling again, and I wonder what it would be like to be his. To really belong to him. That is, if he meant the words he said about being his. It could have been the way he talks to every woman he wants.

I purse my lips thinking about him saying those things to someone else. I don’t like the way it makes me feel. My mother always said men keep mistresses and have wandering eyes. I don’t think that’s something I could ever stomach. Though when she told me that years ago after a few men started asking for my hand, I’d felt relief at the idea. The thought of whomever I got stuck with leaving me alone and spending his nights in his mistress’s bed comforted me somewhat.

Though with the way a lot of the men looked at me, I didn’t think I’d be so lucky. I know I’m pretty. In fact, it’s the only thing people ever really talk about. Sometimes I wonder if my love for getting all dolled up is because it’s something I enjoy or it’s something that’s been ingrained in me.

“Roman.” I hear my sister mumble in her sleep, breaking me from my thoughts. I throw my hand over my mouth to keep from giggling and waking her up. Slipping my other hand from hers I slide out of the bed so as not to wake her. I think maybe she should be alone with whatever dreams she’s having.

I tiptoe to the door, then shut it slowly behind me, trying not to make any noise. When I turn, I see my mother standing in the hallway waiting for me. She knows that if I’m not in my room I’m with Alena. She has another glass of wine in her hand, and she’s still wearing her evening dress. She hasn’t bothered to change. Her lips are pursed, and I know I’m in for it, but I have to wonder what it is this time. Could it be our behavior tonight? Or the fact that I was in Alena’s room, hanging out later than she allows us to? Probably all of the above.

“Your father and I got a call tonight.”

My stomach clenches as fear rises in my throat. Did someone ask for my hand in marriage? The thought wraps around my jugular, and I can’t breathe. She clicks her tongue, which is something she does when she’s irritated.

“Seems you’ll be going with Alena when she marries.”

I don’t know how I stay on my feet at her words, but I manage. I keep my emotions in check and stay utterly still as I process her words. I merely nod an acknowledgement because I know whatever I say will only piss her off. She has a temper, and it’s something I’ve always shielded Alena from the best I could.

She takes a long sip of her wine before her eyes narrow on me once again. “Don’t think because you’re going to stay with your sister that we won’t take offers for your hand. You’ll still meet prospective husbands while you help your sister get settled. Once the King feels Alena will be fine without you, he’ll send you back home. You’re going to do your duty and provide a suitable alliance. Look at all Alena has done for our family. Karim is a marvelous match, one you should have gotten to begin with.”

The moment of relief slips away and makes room for the frustration I feel at the rotten control my mother has over me.

“Really, you two are too codependent as it is.”

She shakes her head, like the fact that Alena and I close is wrong. What’s wrong is the kind of mother she is, but I keep that to myself. It’s better not to piss her off. It only makes life harder, and she knows the best way to get to me is to go after Alena. When that tongue of hers cuts Alena down, it rips into a part of me as well.

So I smile. Alena will be out of here soon enough, and I don’t think her husband will put up with anything from my mother. Especially where his new bride is concerned. He already showed that tonight. I just have to fake it a little longer. And for Alena, I would fake it forever.

“You’ll meet Prince Nelson sometime next week.” With those words, she departs.

I lean back against the wall and drop my head. I’ve never even heard of Prince Nelson before, but I’m sure he’s like all the others I’ve met. Self-involved and looking for something pretty to put on his arm.

I pull myself away from the wall and head towards my room. I want to collapse on my bed and maybe have a good cry. The happiness I was feeling moments ago as I thought about the new life Alena and I could have is draining away. I was living in my head. I wanted Vlad to be true, but I don’t even know if he really wants me or wants to roll around in a bed with me for a night or two. The thought makes my heart hurt even more. It’s all too much to think about at once.

I open the door to my bedroom, and I’m roughly grabbed by the arm. I’m pulled inside and the door shuts behind me. The lock clicks into place, and suddenly I’m trapped.

“Vlad,” I say, shocked to see him standing in my bedroom. He’s still wearing what he had on at dinner, but his coat is gone. My heart thuds with excitement for a moment until I pay attention to the look on his face. He’s livid. I take one step back and then another. His eyes narrow on me as if he’s tracking my every movement, waiting to pounce.

“You’re taking offers for your hand in marriage?” he growls. The playful dominance from before is gone, and in its place is possessive power. It’s coming off of him in waves so strong that I swear I can feel them crashing against my body. “You can keep stepping away from me, Princess, but there’s no escape. I told you that you were mine.” He slowly comes closer, closing the distance between us. “And I meant it.”

I open my mouth to tell him to get out, but he’s quicker than his size would suggest. He’s on me like an animal, lifting me off my feet and throwing me over his shoulder. He stalks towards my bed and tosses me onto it as I struggle not to squeal.

His pins me down with his weight, as if to keep me from getting away. But I don’t want to. I spread my legs, letting his big body nestle between them as he sinks into my embrace. The sadness I was feeling melts away. I don’t know how he does it, but I feel safe, even with him looming over me like he’s a lion that’s just caught its dinner. His presence makes everything instantly better.

He grabs my hands, holding me more securely. I can’t stop myself from lifting my hips, wanting him closer. Wanting him all over me.

“You’re mine, Princess. Mine,” he bites out.

“Yours,” I agree. I want him so badly right now. My body aches for it. No, not only my body, but my heart, too. This man is a warrior. He’s a protector, and I know that for once in my life someone will take care of me. He will shelter me, and I want to fall into that. Fall into him.

A slow smile spreads across his face. “That’s good you agree, Princess, because I’m going to do something that will ensure no one can ever take you from me.”

In one quick motion I feel my panties being ripped from my body.