Page 10 of Love Her

I should’ve known I wasn’t a queen yet.

I was still a pawn.

But pawns could win the board.

I gave the senator my hand, and an attentive smile.

“And of course,” he murmured, loud enough for the nearest onlookers to hear, “no engagement is complete without this.”

From his pocket, he produced a small velvet box and flipped it open to reveal a glittering diamond the size of a small moon, and just as cold. The crowd let out a collective murmur of approval as he slipped the ring onto my finger, and I fought to look delighted.

“I’ll leave you two together for a bit,” my father said, begging off, abandoning me, again.

The ring slid home and it felt like a millstone had just been tied around my neck.

“Do you like it?” Marcus asked, weighing me with his eyes.

“Do I get a choice?” I asked, through lips pursed into a smile.

I saw him laugh but didn’t hear it. “I told him not to surprise you,” he went on. He had the air of a man who rarely heard the word “no”.

I picked up a champagne glass from a passing server and then fought not to down it. “My father usually keeps his own council. I’ve grown used to it.”

“Ah, well,” Marcus said, before offering me a measured smile. “Your father and I both want what’s best for Corvo—and for you.”

It was the kind of thing a man like him thought a woman like me would find reassuring.

“Of course,” I said, letting a hint of breathlessness slip into my tone as I lowered my lashes.I needed to play the part now, and look for knives later.“I’m lucky to have two such powerful men looking out for me.”

The corner of his mouth twitched, not quite a smile. “I imagine this all feels sudden.”

“Sudden?” Freddie Jr.’s voice cut in before I could respond, the edge of his amusement razor-sharp. “Come on, Lia, don’t tell me you weren’t expecting it. You know how much your father values tradition.”

I turned to find him standing a little too close, his glass of scotch dangling from his fingers, and any graciousness I’d ever tried to hold for him, for family’s sake, evaporated.

Luckily, my new fiancée was just as peeved. “Freddie Jr.” He nodded curtly, but his tone was clipped. “I didn’t realize you’d joined us.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t miss my favorite cousin’s engagement for the world.” Freddie raised his glass again, his eyes locking onto mine, while Marcus ignored him, and turned back to talk to me.

“We should take a photo, don’t you think? The press will want something official for tomorrow.”

My fingers tightened on the stem of my champagne glass.A photo. Of course.

He didn’t wait for my answer—he merely looked meaningfully over my shoulder, and a man with a large camera ran up, at the same time as Marcus settled one hand around my waist, resting his palm on top my hip—and I could see Rhaim standing at the back of the room, half-hidden in the shadows. His gaze locked on Marcus’s hand, and though his expression remained cool, there was a sharpness in his eyes that promised consequences.

And I hoped my gaze promised them right-the-fuck-back.

I didn’t care if he was mad at Marcusorme.

I was furious withhim.

“Look happy,” Marcus murmured in my ear, before the flash went off.

The restof the night passed in a blur. I drank enough to seem pleased—but not so much I would lose my tongue. Marcus answered any questions anyone had, and I pretended to be the blushing bride-to-be, so much so I disgusted Freddie Jr—I saw him storm off after giving me half-an-hour to make a fool of myself.

Inside, however, everything was spinning out of control, and it wasn’t just the alcohol. I’d gone from being a force of nature to being the appendage of some man—and not even a man I knew, at that.

But Marcus knew me.

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