Page 10 of The Demon
“A bottle of champagne please, Mrs. Keller.”
As he replaces it, I stare in amazement. “We’re celebrating?”
He nods, his expression blank. “We will toast our new relationship.”
“Relationship?” I wonder if he’s misread this, and he nods. “I own you. That was the pact and now you will place all your trust in me.”
“You own me! What the fuck? I didn’t agree to that. We’re partners in crime, nothing more.”
He leans forward and, to my surprise, dips his head to my breast and kisses the deep cut that he inflicted on me. Then he raises his eyes and whispers, “There is only one way out of this madness for both of us.”
“Which is?”
“We marry for power.”
“Say that again.” I can’t process what I just heard, but before he can answer, the door opens, and I gasp as a woman enters the room carrying an ice bucket.
She stares at the floor and whispers reverently, “As ordered, sir.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Keller. This room needs servicing; we will be retreating to the master suite from now on.”
“Of course, sir.”
She hesitates a little, staring at the ground as if waiting for something, and he says curtly, “We will require dinner in the formal dining room. Please make sure it is set for a celebration.”
“Of course, sir.”
“You may go.” He dismisses her curtly, and she spins on her heel and leaves as silently as she came, and I openly stare as he fills two champagne flutes and hands one to me.
“To our marriage, Eliza. May it merge dynasties and bring them to their knees.”
“What do you mean–marriage?”
Now I’m afraid because what the hell have I signed up for?
As his eyes flash, it strikes me that I know nothing at all about this man, even his name, and I just signed my life away to him.
“Do you have a name?” I hitch my breath as his eyes flash and he growls, “Malik. Malik Karim and you agreed to be my wife.”
“I did not.”
My heart beats frantically as I wonder what this will unleash, and now I’m afraid I’ve created a monster.
“First thing tomorrow we go to Dubai, where we will arrange the wedding.”
“Dubai!” I feel faint and hope it’s from the steam and then he knocks me down and I don’t think I’ll ever get up again when he snarls, “It’s time to end this once and for all, Eliza. Face your fear and give me what I want. It’s time to face your father.”
“No!”
I make to leave, and a strong hand shoots out and grips my wrist hard.
“It’s the only way. It’s obvious that’s where your problem lies and unless you tell me everything, I can’t help you.”
The tears run like a river down my face, as I sob, “No, I won’t go. You can’t make me.”
In a desperate act of foolishness, I lunge for the knife that he casually left on the side and as I take aim, his strong grip makes me drop it with a scream of pain and in two short moves he holds me around the neck with the blade resting against my throat.
“Please.” I sob as he hisses, “Never try anything like that again. If you do, I will chain you up and treat you like a dog, not my wife.”