SLEEPING MY WAY INTO YOUR HEART

Chapter 7:

I backed away, pressing myself into the corner of the wall, but there was no escape. The men were closing in, their eyes burning with hunger, and a shiver ran down my spine. My breathing became labored, as if the air in the room had been sucked dry.

A large, burly man reached out, grabbing the collar of my shirt. I screamed, but the sound was choked by sheer terror. "Don’t be so scared, princess," he sneered, his breath reeking of cigarettes and strong liquor. "It’s just a bit of fun."

Tears welled up in my eyes, and my bound hands could do nothing but struggle in vain. They were like a pack of starving wolves, and I was nothing but a lost lamb. I braced myself for the worst, but suddenly, a cold voice cut through the room, freezing everything in place.

"That’s enough."

Zephyr. He appeared like a chilling gust of wind, stepping between me and the assassins, his stance relaxed but with a deadly glint in his gray eyes. "Are you all in a hurry to die?" His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried a weight that made every one of them halt in their tracks.

The scrawny man stepped back, the grin wiped off his face. "Zephyr, we were just joking around," he stammered, his eyes filled with fear as he faced the fury burning in Zephyr’s gaze.

Zephyr took a step closer, each of his movements slicing through the heavy air like a knife. "Do you want to try touching her again?" he asked, his tone light but laced with lethal threat. "I’ll kill every one of you if anyone dares come any closer."

Not a single word of protest was uttered. A terrifying silence blanketed the room, as if even the air had turned to ice. The assassins backed away, their eyes lowered like a pack of wolves chastised by their Alpha. They muttered a few words under their breath, then quickly retreated, none of them daring to look back at me.

Zephyr turned around, facing me. His eyes were as cold as before, but now I could see something different in them—a hint of amusement mixed with indifference, as if he had saved me not out of pity but for a simpler reason: I was still useful to him.

"You're safe," Zephyr said calmly, as if what he had done was a mere trifle. "You owe me, Seraphina."

I felt my throat go dry, unsure of what to say. Yes, I had been saved from those vile men, but I knew now that I owed Zephyr a debt I wasn’t sure I could ever repay. A debt to a notorious killer, a man who cared only for money and lacked any shred of mercy.

"What do you want?" I whispered, my voice trembling but my face trying to maintain a calm mask. "I’ll give you whatever you ask, as long as I can."

Zephyr smirked, a faint, cold smile like a fleeting winter breeze. "Don’t be so quick to offer, princess," he replied, his gray eyes glinting with a playful edge. "You owe me your life now, and I’ll collect that debt in my own time. But not today."

My heart sank. I had escaped, but the price I’d have to pay might be far steeper than death itself.

I slumped down, curling into a damp corner of the wall, trying to make myself as small as possible. My heart felt like it was about to burst, each thud echoing loudly in my chest. Fear wrapped around me, heavy and suffocating, like a wet blanket pulling me under. I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer—they streamed down my cheeks unchecked. I had tried to stay strong, but now, alone and cornered, I couldn’t maintain the façade any longer.

Footsteps echoed in the dim room. I looked up to see Zephyr standing there, leaning casually against the opposite wall, his cold gray eyes gleaming with amusement. “What a pitiful sight,” he remarked, smirking. “A spoiled little princess, now reduced to sobbing like a helpless child.”

“Shut up!” I snapped, but my voice was weak and choked with sobs, only making me seem more pathetic. Zephyr chuckled, taking a step closer and crouching down to meet my eye level. He reached out, wiping away a tear from my cheek with his finger, as if he were toying with a small kitten.

“How amusing,” he murmured, a strange spark of interest lighting up his eyes. “You said you could pay me whatever I wanted, yet here you are, crying like someone who’s lost everything. Don’t you see the contradiction?”

Zephyr stood up, brushing his hands off casually. “Already scared, are you? This is much more entertaining—watching an adult cry is ten times better than teasing a child.”

I bit down hard on my lip, trying to swallow the flood of emotions. I knew I couldn’t pay Zephyr right now, and there was no way to convince him to help me. But suddenly, a bold idea flashed through my mind. It was a crazy plan, but I had no other choice left. I had to gamble everything, even my pride.

“Zephyr,” I said, my voice hoarse but filled with determination. “I can’t pay you right now. But… if you’re willing, I have another offer for you.”

Zephyr raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Another offer?” He tilted his head, his eyes filled with curiosity. “Go on, I’m all ears.”

I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. “Marry me.”

“What?”

Zephyr froze, his eyes narrowing into slits as he scratched his chin. “Marry you? As in, get married? You’re proposing to be my wife?”

My breath hitched, cold sweat pouring down my back. I must have gone insane, but what did it matter? I needed to survive, and I knew that out of everyone here, Zephyr was the only one I could bargain with—the only one who could get me out of this place.

Zephyr fell silent, deep in thought, and even I began to doubt myself. Was he seriously considering it? Meanwhile, the others burst out laughing.

“Oh, she’s lost it! Scared out of her mind, she thinks she’s worth that much? Hey, lady, you’re a hostage right now!”

“Marriage? How ridiculous. A hitman in love?”

But I ignored them all, my eyes locked solely on Zephyr.

“Hmm, you are pretty,” he mused, looking me up and down. “Smart too, not like those brainless, pretty ornaments.”

Was he… actually considering this?

“Yes,” I replied, holding his gaze steady. “Besides, you want money, and I can give you more than anyone else. Marry me, and you’ll have everything—wealth, power, and a life of luxury.”

I swallowed hard, pressing on. “I am the daughter of Alpha Lucian, the rightful heir to my family. If you marry me, you’ll inherit all the assets and influence of my clan.”

Zephyr stared at me, a slow smile spreading across his lips. “A life of luxury, you say?” He muttered, as if weighing the idea. “That’s quite an enticing offer, Seraphina.”

The others around us started whispering frantically. “Zephyr, are you out of your mind?” one of them shouted. “She’s tricking you! You know damn well that breaking the contract will get you killed!”

Zephyr turned to face them, his cold gaze sweeping over the group. “Anyone want to try stopping me?” he sneered, his voice dripping with challenge. “I don’t think any of you have the guts.”

I could hardly believe the calmness in Zephyr’s demeanor. He turned back to me, the smile still playing on his lips. “I accept,” he said smoothly. “And now, we’re leaving immediately, my future wife.”