"You! What have you done? Do you know who she-"
I grabbed her by the collar of her heavy jacket and leaned down.

"I don't know who she is but, do you know who I am?"

Glaring, she hissed, "You're just a professor's whore."

I chuckled dangerously, holding back the urge to smack her face with my forehead till her nose broke. "This slut 'is' the next Czarina. And do you know who that professor is? He's your future fucking boss. Do you want to dare me?"

The girls widened, but the dislike in them didn't fade. "You're just talking bi-"
I shut her up with a hard slap, pushing her away till she fell on the impostor.

I sighed, straightening; the cold air was starting to penetrate my nostrils due to the heavy breathing from the little fight.
Unexpectedly, a scarf was placed around my neck from behind. The scent and warmth in it was from the man I knew would back me up even though it'd cause him trouble.
Why he did things like that was beyond my understanding and I honestly didn't want to know that much. I had promised myself to bask in the power he was offering without any certainty of the future. Is this what they called, living in the moment?

Ilay placed his chin on my shoulder.
"What do you want to do with them? I didn't even know I had a second wife."

I turned my head to look at his face. Most of the anger had dissipated, but there were traces of danger left.
"Where did she even come from? How could you not know what she was spreading?"
I did have my doubts about him. After all, Ilay loved playing games with people's lives because he found it amusing.

"She's the daughter of the Petrovs. They had sent a marriage proposal while we were in America but I burned it yesterday."

"And you didn't bother to tell me even though you claim you'll never-"
Ilay pushed his mouth on mine, giving me an unexpected kiss in front of so many eyes.
Ah, how could I forget how he liked teasing me whenever we were in public?
And yet, it still felt exciting every time he caught me off guard.

"You owe me something," he whispered breaking the kiss.

The world around us had disappeared at that moment. It was just me and Ilay as we exchanged breaths and fucked each other with our eyes. "What is it?"

He smiled mischievously. "If I remember correctly, I was promised some binding. I've been looking forward to collecting that debt."
A lump materialized in my throat. I...I had forgotten about it.
Was that why he bought the toys? He wanted it to be kinky as hell. But this would be my first time doing this, and it was a little scary. 'Why would you be scared? It's Ilay, the man whose darkness makes you feel alive. Or would you prefer being with a boring righteous guy with no thrill?'

No, no, and no. Even Dario couldn't match Ilay even though he was hot.
Ilay was just a species on his own. My kind of species.

I giggled looking ahead, only to see the students being dispersed by another professor and the impostor being carried out. Dario was now leaning against the wall in front of us, arms crossed on his chest with his eyes on us like we were clowns meant to entertain him.
Sharp questioning gazes were sent my way, the obvious question painted all over their faces. I could only grin at them, telling them that they'd never understand the kind of relationship between me and Ilay even if they asked with their mouths.

"Before I fulfill that promise, I need to know about that impostor. Are they powerful? Why would she be so confident about being with you? Have you fucked h- actually, forget that one. She didn't even recognize you."

Reacting to my blabber, Ilay laughed turning me to face him. "I smell jealousy."

"You wish. I'm just curious."

Ilay cupped my face with his gloved hands and shook his head. "They're not powerful but not weak either."

"How does she not know who you are?"

"Because not many of these unknowledgeable toads know who the heir is. Besides," he placed his forehead against mine, "not many people in the world can frighten me. So be as wild as you want. If the day comes when I have to die, I'll just take you with me so you won't fall into the hands of another."

Was it a threat or a promise?
It felt like both, and that, made my heart flutter even crazily.
Be as wild as I wanted, but if he falls, I fall with him.
I raised my right pinky finger. "Promise to never doubt me. Promise to never hurt me. Promise to never leave me for someone else. If you do, then I promise I'll live for you, and die with you. I'll 'never' betray you. And if I do, please give me the slowest and most painful death possible."

Ilay frowned pondering over my words, making me think I had asked for too much from someone I didn't know fully. All I was sure of was my attraction towards him, which had been growing day by day. I already knew the consequences of betraying him. Already knew the rewards of staying loyal to him. Already knew how messed up and unforgiving he was. So why would I go against someone like Ilay Volkov?
For money? He was offering that.
For power? He was giving me that as well.
For a dick? I had enough and more.
For family? I had none left to care for.

So what, what would make me betray Ilay? Nothing.
I was ready to sacrifice my future and my life to live the best life I could have ever dreamed of. I was the lucky girl this psychopath chose to put a crow on my head and make me shine.

"You...will live for me? Die for me?" he repeated as if doubting me.

"I don't say words I don't me-" Ilay moved back and reached for something from behind him, under his coat before bringing it forward, its mouth on my forehead.
It was cold, but not too cold because some of his warmth had been transferred to the gun.

He smirked pulling the trigger. "Are you sure of what you just said? Cause I might kill you myself before I die."

Confidently, I replied, "Yes."

"Close your eyes, Kally. I'm going to shoot you in a place of my choosing. If you flinch, then your words were mere lies and I will kill you right here, right now. Can you do that?"

Swallowing my tension, I nodded obeying.
'He's going to shoot me. Fuck! I've never been shot. What if I scream? What if I try to duck? He'll kill me without hesitating. But, I've brought this upon myself. If I die, then let me die under the hand of the person who can give me the whole world without thinking twice as long as I'm loyal to him.'

"Ilay? What are you-"

"Shut up!" Ilay hissed at Dario. "You should know that I hate it when someone lies to me. Especially when they make promises themselves and then turn the other way when they're supposed to fulfill them."

"But Ilay. You're going to shoot her. How can she not get scared or-"

"Shut the fuck up!"
*Bam*
He fired, and I bit my tongue hard till it bled. But that wasn't the only pain I was experiencing.
It felt like a hot iron rod had passed by my left arm, grazing my flesh and leaving a hole in my jacket.

I looked down at the arm. A crimson patch was quickly forming on the fabrics of my clothes.
Smiling, my eyes left my scorching arm to Ilay's face where a reflection of my toxic self filled his eyes. "I didn't flinch," I whispered, the blood from my tongue leaking from the corner of my lips.
Ilay smiled back taking my right hand.

Locking our pinkies, he whispered, "I promise to give you wanting you want, Kally. From today, you're the only person in this world who truly matters to me. If we die, we'll die...together."

That promise was enough for me. Now, I could pass out from the pain and the shock of being shot for the very first time.
My world went black, but Ilay's smile remained in my mind, giving me warmth to face the darkness.