Page 157 of His Forced Bride

When our meeting is over and the men file out, I rest my hand possessively on the small of Inessa's back and guide her through the house out toward the car.

There haven't been any incidents here at my compound, nor have there been any threats, but I'm not taking chances with my most valuable possession.

"Should I have Rosa get you a change of clothes?"

I ask her as we pass the bedroom, but she leans into me and sighs.

"I'm hoping this resolves tomorrow and that we'll be home in our own bed before it comes to that."

The way Inessa speaks of my home as her own now is touching.

Not even two months ago, she called it her prison, and now she sleeps in my bed and eats at my table as if she belongs there.

"Besides, I just want to rest. I'm exhausted and ready to put this behind us."

"Yes, I am too."

I nod at Alexei as we pass him over the threshold and his chest puffs out slightly.

Then I lead her to the car and help her in.

This has been exhausting for us all, and we're so close to finishing things.

"Your men," she says as Oleg pulls the car into the street.

"The way they treated me today—spoke to me with respect…"

Her gaze dances across my face with wonder, and rightly so.

In my world, respect is earned, but in her case, it's granted because she is my wife now.

Before she ever knew it, those men saw her as my equal simply because she carries my name, and they would die for her the way they would for me too.

But now she's earned it.

"They see strength in you now," I tell her.

"The way you handled yourself in that courtroom, the way you stood your ground against both the judge and your mother, and in the war room, the way you announced your intentions—that earned their respect."

She turns to face me, those gray-green eyes searching my expression.

"Is that how you see me too? As an equal?"

I can't believe she still feels the need to ask that.

After everything we've been through, after watching her transform from a frightened bride into a woman capable of demanding her mother's blood, she still questions her place beside me.

"You've been better than me since the first moment I laid eyes on you, Inessa. But the fact that you carry my name now means you're untouchable. You're too good for me."

Hooking my fingers around the back of her neck, I pull her toward me and press a kiss to her forehead.

The way she absorbs it all so quietly tells me she doesn’t really believe it, but it's true.

This woman is too good for me in every way, and I am a better man because she is mine.

"Tell me your plan," I say, settling back to listen.

"How do you think we can pin Viktoria down and make her pay?"