No Choice

With a swift and possessive gesture, Kieran snatched Rose's wrist as if he already owned her. He pulled her out onto the patio, away from the warmth and chatter of the party inside.

"That was incredibly rude. I was in the middle of a conversation with your mother," Rose protested, trying to free herself from his grip.

"Listen, girl," he hissed in her ear.

"My name is Rose," she corrected him sharply.

"I don't care," he barked back at her, frustration evident in his tone. "And I certainly don't want this ridiculous marriage arrangement."

He doesn't? Rose couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope at his words. Maybe they could both convince their parents to call off this forced union.

"But we are going through with it," Kieran continued sternly, extinguishing that glimmer of hope. "For this whole pact to work, you'll have to behave."

"I object!" Rose exclaimed.

Kieran winced at her outburst. "I didn't say you had a choice."