Page 71 of Ruthless Prince

“My father told my mother about it before the contract was signed, and then they both told me about it when I was akid.”

“Your parents just sat you down and told you they bought a girl for you to marry when you grew up?” I shook my head with incredulity. “You thought that wasnormal?”

His expression barely wavered. “It doesn’t matter if it’s normal. All that matters is that it has tohappen.”

I swallowed thickly. “But you hate me,” I said. “So why would you accept a contractual obligation to marry me? Why not refuse? It’s not like you ever agreed to it. You were only three when they made thedeal.”

“Marriages in our world aren’t about love,” he replied, narrowing his eyes. “My family is a political dynasty. They want to continue their work for the party they support, and our union will help withthat.”

“How?”

He raised a brow. “Think about it. You’ll move in with us and voice your staunch support for our causes from now on. It’ll look like you’re ditching your family and choosing our side. That won’t look good for them or their party,” he said. “The younger voters in this country look to people like you as role models when they decide who to support, so when you’re seen choosing us, their favor will start to swing ourway.”

“That’s such a stupid reason to marry someone. Marriage is supposed to be aboutlove.”

“Emotions have no place in politics, Willow. Especially love. My family members only ever marry men and women who are good on paper and help to advance the cause. You’re just the latestone.”

I slumped back against the pillows, muttering under mybreath.

“Arranged marriages happen all the time in our world. You know that,” Loganadded.

“Yes, but not likethis. Those marriages are always mutually agreed upon. This is just a hostagesituation!”

He shrugged. “That doesn’t change the fact that it’shappening.”

Threads of fear, anger, and indignation twisted inside me, coiling into something thicker and heavier. It wound around my ribs and lungs, stealing mybreath.

I couldn’t dothis.

Iwouldn’t.

“No. It’s not happening,” I said, heat flushing through my body. “I’m not responsible for my father’s crimes or debts. I won’t be a political pawn,either.”

“You can’t stop this,Willow.”

I jangled the chains again. “Yes, I can! I don’t care how long it takes. I’m going to get away from you and let the whole world know how fucked up youare!”

“Good luck withthat.”

“I’m serious. You can’t own another human being, and you can’t force them to be with you. There’s no way I’llevermarryyou.”

I expected Logan to glare at me again, but instead, he smiled and pulled a golden key out of his pocket. “Okay. I hear you. Let’s make our own little deal,” he said. “If you can get out of this room, you’re free to go. I’ll give up all claims of ownership overyou.”

I stared blankly at him. “Are you serious? After all that, you’ll just let mego?”

“Sure.” He knelt at the end of the bed and removed the cuffs from my ankles. “There yougo.”

“I don’t believe you,” Isaid.

“Fine. Don’t try to leave, then. It’s yourcall.”

After two minutes of indecision, I got up on shaky feet. Logan moved to block the door. “I’m not going to make it easy for you,princess.”

I narrowed my eyes. “I’ll go through the window,then.”

He waved a hand toward the heavy velvet drapes covering the opposite wall. “All right. Havefun.”

“You’re really not going to stopme?”