Page 32 of Sweet Deception

A wave of nausea rolled through me.

I wanted to hit him. To claw at his face. To make him feel something, anything, other than that infuriating coldness.

Instead, I forced myself to meet his gaze. “And what do you care? You don’t need me. You have your control, your power.”

“I need an heir.” His voice was a whip-crack against my skin.

A sharp, painful silence followed.

His meaning settled between us like a heavy stone.

I had known this, of course. It had been the sole reason for this marriage, to give him a son, to seal the alliance.

But hearing him say it like that... so clinical, so detached... made my stomach turn.

I took a slow breath, trying to steady myself. “And if I don’t?”

Gleb’s jaw tensed.

“You will,” he said simply. “When I’m ready.”

The certainty in his voice sent a chill through me.

But I pushed forward, desperation clawing at my throat.

“My brothers,” I whispered.

His expression didn’t change.

“Please.” My voice cracked. “Let them go. Matteo, Salvatore, they aren’t threats to you anymore.”

Gleb exhaled slowly, rubbing his fingers together as if contemplating something tedious. “I don’t think you understand, printsessa. They are only alive because of you.”

A lump formed in my throat. “Then let them go.”

“No.”

The word struck like a slap.

My stomach twisted, but I forced myself to step closer, my pride shriveling with every inch. “I’ll...” My voice wavered. I swallowed hard. “I’ll do what you want.”

His head tilted slightly, his icy gaze dragging over my face. “You already will do what I want.”

My breath came out ragged. “Then tell me what I have to do to make you let them go.”

A trace of something unreadable flashed in his eyes, something I couldn’t name.

Then, in a slow, deliberate movement, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a ring.

It wasn’t delicate or ornate.

It was a heavy gold band, thick and unmistakably Russian stamped with the emblem of his family. A symbol of power. Of ownership.

I stared at it, my breath caught in my throat.

“Put it on,” he said.

I didn’t move.