The Skull Ruler Page 23

  “Maybe…but it’s necessary.”

  So he was serious. “You aren’t thinking of actually marrying me—”

  “I’ve already found the perfect husband for you—Maverick DeVille.”

  I had no idea who that was. “Uh…not gonna happen.”

  “Arwen, I know this is hard, but this is about survival. We won’t survive unless we do this. You have no idea what kind of men will be hunting me down.”

  “What about you? Why don’t I just go with you?”

  “Because you’ll be on the run forever. You’ll never have a normal life. You’ll never be able to sing again. Maverick can keep you safe. He can keep the dogs away. I know you don’t like this, but trust me, this is what—”

  “I’m already seeing someone…”

  “Well…I’m sorry.”

  “You’re sorry?” Now that I realized that this was deadly serious, that my father really intended to marry me to some stranger, the terror was starting to suffocate me. “You’re sorry that you’re making me marry a guy I don’t even know? Well, the answer is no. I refuse.”

  He bowed his head. “Princess—”

  “Don’t ‘princess’ me.” I pushed my hands against the table and stood. “When I marry someone, it’ll be for love. It’ll be because I can’t live without him. I’m not marrying some guy because I’m scared of your collectors.”

  “Arwen, you don’t understand.” He rose to his feet, moving much more slowly.

  “I’m not listening to this.” I started to walk off, refusing to entertain this nonsense.

  “Arwen.” His voice grew stronger. “You don’t understand what you’re up against.”

  I stopped in my tracks, the tears immediately burning to the surface.

  “I won’t survive this. And when I’m gone, there’s nothing standing between you and death. Arwen, I don’t want to say this to you…but these men won’t just hurt you. They’ll rape you…they’ll torture you. I wish there were another way…but there’s not. Maverick DeVille is the only way you’ll live. So, we don’t have a choice.”

  * * *

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