it was a few days ago. They gave him another girl, but he wants to buy you. Malin and Gustave will be working on arranging your sale before the night of the auction."
My mouth goes dry. "What if they don't let Malin buy me?"
"Then we will need a plan B. Pray it doesn't come to that."
18
Malin
"I won't do it," I tell Gustave.
He crosses his arms and sits back in his seat. The last hour we've been going around and around. His voice calms. "Tell me what you are going to do to protect her."
I scrub my face. "I don't know. But she cannot be subjected to the room."
"There are no other options. If any man knows what you are going through right now, it's me. But you must claim her. President Tyler wants to buy her. Louis wants the money. You know what she is worth."
I cross an arm over my chest, put my elbow on it, and press my palm to my forehead, trying to stop the headache that's been throbbing for the last few hours. "She's innocent."
"Which is why she's worth so much."
I want to tell Gustave he's wrong. I wish there were somewhere for me to hide Emilia. But deep down, I know there is no other solution. If I don't claim her as mine, they will track us down. She will be broken in at the whorehouse, bought, then destroyed in front of everyone again. I shudder at the thought.
"Bernadette will spend the next two weeks training her. I will teach you."
"I don't need—"
"You are weak around her. Anyone can see your infatuation. You cannot act like this in the room. Training is a must."
"I still haven't agreed to this," I argue, but it's a no-win situation.
"Do you want her with you or the President when this is over?"
I scowl at Gustave.
"This is the reality we are in. If you do not save her, he will buy her. It will only be a matter of time. He will let others use her, to watch her suffer. And I need you in the room with me. If we don't move quickly, everything as we know it will be gone forever."
Why does Emilia have to be part of this?
I rise. "I need to talk to ma belle." I go to the back of the plane. "I need to speak with ma belle alone."
Bernadette rises, gives me a small smile, and pats my arm on her way out.
Emilia stands. Her blue eyes are mixed with fear and worry. But I also see love and her fierce determination. It all pulls at my heartstrings.
I pull her into my arms. "Ma belle—"
"I'm going to do it." She looks up. "We are going to do it. I need to be with you. I can't run from this. We both know that. You must do what it takes to claim me as yours."
"I already have claimed you," I growl.
She cups my cheeks. "You know what I mean."
I close my eyes, wanting to keep her in my arms forever. "I don't want this."
"Look at me, Malin."
I open my eyes, and there's so much courage in hers. I hate myself that she has all of it right now.
"It will be us. You and me."
"But it won't be."
She puts her finger over my lips. "Shhh. No matter what, it's you and me. As long as you are the only one who can touch me, I can handle the rest."
"You don't know that."
"I won't break."
"I have to break you. That's what you don't understand," I bark. I've seen it too many times in the room. The fact I've gotten away without a proper "initiation" all these years is astounding.
Hot red anger flares in her cheeks. "I do. Bernadette told me everything. She will train me. Gustave will train you. You will break me. And when it's over, you will put me back together again."
"What if I can't?" I blurt out one of my biggest fears.
"You will."
My stomach twists. "You can't be sure."
She puts my palm on her heart and her other hand on mine. "You already did. You will do it again."
"Ma belle, this is different."
Her heart beats faster against my palm. "No. It's not. Whatever you need to do to me, do without question. I will submit fully to you. Do not let any other man touch me, and I will be fine. Let them watch us, but they will not touch us."
I lace my hand through her hair and pull her head firmly toward me.