Maxim Pavlichenko

Overseeing the trial was his icy mother, Madame Valentina, a sharp-featured matriarch dripping in diamonds, flanked by heavy syndicate guards. She had summoned five chosen women to the hall: the poised socialite Victoria, the anxious cartel heiress Elena, the sharp-tongued Sophia, the quiet beauty Natalia, and Lisa—a fiercely independent, smart, and gorgeous woman hiding a secret that could bind her to this dark underworld forever. ​Step forward, one by one, Madame Valentina commanded, her voice echoing through the silent chamber. The woman whose bare touch clears my son's veins shall be named his wife, his Luna, and the mistress of everything he owns. ​Victoria, Elena, Sophia, and Natalia each took their turn with trembling hands, pressing bare fingers against Maxim’s chest. The black veins remained dark, hungry, and unchanged, causing each girl to be dismissed with a wave of Valentina's hand. ​Then, Lisa stepped forward. ​Knowing that her tactile healing magic would instantly trigger the bond, Lisa had kept her secret hidden beneath tailored, black velvet gloves. She reached out, pressing her gloved palm lightly against his chest, praying the fabric would suppress her power so she could walk away free. ​Maxim felt nothing but cold velvet. His dark eyes snapped up, burning with an aggressive, possessive fury as his heavy, veiny hand shot out like a vise, gripping her wrist in an inescapable hold.