Page 22 of King of Ashes

"Phoenix…" I lean into his touch, letting him feel my surrender. "I swear on my life, there's no one else."

His fingers tighten fractionally on my jaw. "And I'm supposed to trust the word of a Kean?"

"Trust your own eyes." I meet his gaze steadily. "You've taken over the house. You have men watching my every move. If there were someone, you'd know."

Something flickers in his expression, doubt, probably. His thumb strokes my cheek once more before he drops his hand.

"We'll see." He steps back, creating space between us that allows me to take a breath. "For your sake, I hope you're telling the truth. Because if I find out you're lying…" His smile turns sharp. "Well, let's just say I won't be nearly this understanding."

I shake my head and look out the window.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?”

“No. I’m resolved that you’ll only believe what you want. Nothing I say or do will matter.”

“You can’t blame me for not trusting you after you betrayed me?—”

My head snaps back in his direction. “I didn’t betray you.”

“The fact that my parents are dead and we’re standing over their fiery graves says differently.”

This conversation is pointless, so I don’t respond.

“No response to that?”

“Nothing that you’d believe. Why are you wasting your precious time on me when you think you already know all the answers?”

His jaw tics and I know I need to rein in my annoyance. “Well, you and I are getting married and you’re going to plan it. You can arrange whatever you want as long as it impresses all the families. By this time next week, you’ll be my wife.”

"A week?" I don’t hide my shock. "You want to plan an entire wedding in a week?"

Phoenix shrugs. "Problem? I thought most women dreamed of planning their perfect wedding."

"Most women get more than seven days." And are fueled by love for their fiancé, but I don’t say that.

"Money's no object." He waves dismissively. "And I'm sure you know how to run a household efficiently. Boston’s elite must see that there is a new sheriff in town.”

"You want Boston's elite to attend a wedding where the bride is your prisoner?" I let out a harsh laugh. "They'll see right through that."

Phoenix’s eyes narrow. "You'd be surprised what people will overlook when they're afraid."

"And what about the staff? After that display in your office, how am I supposed to command any respect? You made sure they saw me as nothing but your?—"

"My what?" His eyes glitter dangerously. "Say it."

I lift my chin. "Your whore."

"Yet here you are, about to become my wife." He moves toward me again, and I do my best not to lean away from his advance. "And you'll do it with a smile, won't you? Because we both know what's at stake."

My teeth grind to avoid calling him vile names. "I can't organize anything locked in my room. I'd need access to the house."

"Supervised access." He stops in front of me. "You don't really think I'd let you wander freely?"

"Then find someone else to plan your spectacle." I turn away, but his hand shoots out, gripping my chin, forcing me to look at him.

"You'll do it," he says softly, "or I’ll methodically kill every man in this house and whoever you’re protecting will die."

I force myself to meet his gaze steadily. "Why do you care so much? You clearly despise me.”