He was a work of art, a masterpiece crafted as if by the gods.
But of all his features, it was his eyes that nearly floored her.
They flared with amethyst and golden flecks as they raked over her. He stared deep into her soul.
He growled under his breath, and the veil, once a barrier between them, fell away, revealing her fully.
He blinked, his jaw clenched, a muscle rippling down his sinewed neck.
His stare shifted from one of curious expectation to one of outrage and disbelief as he glared at her.
A question followed the shock in his eyes, and his narrowed, burning gaze flicked toward her family.
The gilded quartz flames in his eyes flared, as if to scorch the earth beneath her.
A hiss sounded behind her, and she glanced at her uncle in the front row.
His face contorted in horror, his generous-sized form rising from his seat.
Saba’s gaze flew back to her groom’s face, searching for any give, any slack in his stern expression.
There was none.
His eyes now glowered with wrath and disbelief.
Whispers rippled through the guests, creating a hum of discontent, and Saba’s stomach knotted, unease crowding her like a shadow at dusk.
Holy astral suns. What had she done?
Bracing herself for the worst, Saba caught Mak’s gaze again.
His eyes searched hers, and as he leaned closer, his silver-tipped fangs brushing her earlobe, his voice came hoarse, whispered, and furious.
‘Who the fokk are you?’
Chapter 2
SABA
Saba blinked at the impossible skies of the artificial lake nestled within the massive dreadnought’s nature reserve.
She fixated on the startling dusk of wild orange, marveling at its edges of vivid pinks and glorious reds scattered into the rose-gold ash of early evening.
Her eyes danced everywhere but at him, a conscious effort to evade the mounting tension between them.
They flickered over the turquoise waters, the glittering golden sands, and the gorgeous space before them.
The expansive deck offered the best lake views, perfect for afternoon canapés.
Giant pergolas dotted the grass, each with an alfresco bar and seating for up to two thousand guests.
An outdoor dance floor floated, cantilevered over the opposite end of the lake, surrounded by seated dining and cocktail areas, all set against a backdrop of romantic festoon lighting and fairy-lit trees.
It was a fairy tale, an enchanting setting, a dreamscape like none other.
The problem was that it had been designed for someone else entirely.
‘Talk to me,’ his voice rasped, pulling her tighter, closer, growling into her ear as the corded arm banded tighter around her waist.
