Chapter 72 - Gilded Cage

Deep cobalt irises shimmered with unshed tears as they peered back into the room from which they had just escaped. Those words settled like lead rocks into her stomach and weighed heavily on her heart.

Alexa stared back at the man who expected so much from her and said nothing in return. He watched on with dark eyes, his arms crossed over his broad chest. Like father, like son, as alike as they were in looks, they were in their expectations of her, both expecting more than she could give.

What could she say to that anyway? He was so sure she’d be ready to take her father’s place, but she was far from it. She’d never known his world, never know his customs, and was now being thrust into a position of power for which she was never prepared.

And to top it all off she had his son badgering her from her other side to accept his demand for her to be his mate. The assault on both fronts drained her of her energy more than anything else she had faced that day.

She had learned that it had b