ery time she tried to settle her thoughts, to gather a semblance of control over the s

d for control or the forceful way he had taken charge of her life-it was the unsettling feeling that he wasn't just m

ave. The polished floors, the delicate crystal chandeliers, the towering walls adorned with portraits of d

oom seemed to hold its breath as Aria made her way to the seat beside him, her steps tentativ

her defenses. He had a way of making her feel small, insignificant,

was thick, suffocating. She opened her mouth, ready to say something-anything-but the wo

new life, Mrs. Alden?" Dorian's voice slic

, wanted to see her squirm under the weight of their situation. But A

but the edge of bitterness was hard to conceal.

"It's progressing," he said, lifting his wine glass to

n eating away at her-what exactly did he mean by "work"? Was it just about having a

ysical nearness-it was the power he wielded over her, over everything. He was like a s

up abruptly, his chair scraping harshly against the floor. His eyes flicked t

d, his voice low, but the

hall, to the stairs that led to the upper floors of the mansion. The place was silent, save

asked, her voice shaking

scent of old books and expensive leather. He moved toward a large desk in the center of the r

uring toward the leather

back rigid. There was something about the way he controlled every a

d before her, his hands resting on the back

ness to it now, like a knife hidden under velvet. "You think this marriage is just about t

as nothing more than a pawn in his game, but something about

tone challenging, though the nervou

out power," he said, his eyes gleaming with something dangerous.

didn't need to ask what he meant. T

dark promise. "You're here to help me build an empire. You'll be my queen, and together, we'll

focating. "What are you talking about?" she asked, trying to stead

p straight again, his expression unreadable. "I expect you to

r from over. She wasn't just an unwilling bride or a surrogate mother-she was

t. She would dig unti

. "You'll stay here tonight," he said witho

close in around her, pressing her deeper into the chair. She was no longer just a pawn in

t was he planning, and how far was he willing to go to get what he wanted? She was about to be dragg