Ever After (Stone)

I don't forgive debts. If you owe me, you pay. It's how I've built my empire. But Ellie doesn't come begging me for her father's life; she comes demanding an exchange. Her life for his. A deal is struck. I'm not a good man. I'm a beast, and my hunger for her will be fed. I will possess her. But there's more at play here than just the possession of a beauty. Secrets don't stay buried.

I took Azalea from her tower. She didn't come willingly, but she's not going anywhere. She's staying right where I have her - no matter her demands for freedom. Azalea thinks the world outside is full of wonder and beauty. She has no clue about the danger that lurks within every shadow - and hell if I don't want to keep her from finding out.

Collect the girl. Speak some vows. Inherit the fortune. Nowhere in the requirements did it say anything about falling in love. Melinda thinks she’s just coming to grandma’s for dinner, but she’s wrong. She’s wrong about a lot of things. None of which is my business. The only business I have is to settle the open accounts on my uncle’s books, so I can collect my inheritance and move on with my life. Collecting Melinda in order to cross off her grandfather’s debt wasn’t hard, but she’s not exactly marching gracefully up to the auction block for me.