Mine
890 Words
•Lucien•
Thump. Thump. Thump.
I could hear their heartbeats, tasted the fear in the air. The room was silent, the men exchanging uneasy glances.
I leaned back in my seat, my gaze settling on the girl—now a woman—who had been the bane of my existence.
Every breath I took, every life snuffed out, was somehow tied to the woman seated across from me.
Her hazel eyes flickered to me, the green within them flaring briefly before fading.
There was fight in her, as well as fear. As expected, my reputation had preceded me. Again.
“Tonight? Tonight isn’t possible, it’s already—” I turned my eyes to the man who called himself her father, and he fell silent immediately.
Pathetic. A king, yet he couldn’t even speak without stuttering.
“I don’t care, Eldric. The marriage either happens tonight, or I leave with my wife regardless.” The word wife felt different, as though a part of me knew she had always been mine.
Ever since I pulled the trigger because of her twenty years ago, she had belonged to me. Noone knew it. She probably had no idea herself.
Eldric frowned, whispering to the bald-headed man next to him, who nodded repeatedly.
She was holding her breath—I could feel it.
My gaze turned back to her as her father discussed his plan.
Her eyes darted away from mine, taking in everything around her except me.
She was beautiful, just as she had been twenty years ago, with a gaze that still held an innocence I intended to crush.
I could sense the goodness of her heart and the purity of her soul—things I wanted to tarnish.
“Very well. We’ll arrange for it to be done,” Eldric finally said, and for the first time that night, I saw panic and fear in her eyes.
“Father,” she murmured, and drew in a sharp breath from her beautifully parted lips.
Her eyes shifted to the man beside her, who looked at her with thinly veiled disdain.
My blood boiled, my fists clenching as I suppressed the urge to make him scream in agony while his blood formed a small pool. But I guess, that would have to wait.
“You’ll marry him tonight, Zara. No questions asked,” he said, and she bit down on her lip to mask its tremble. But I noticed.
“Go change your dress,” Eldric commanded. She braced her hands against the table to push herself up.
She turned around and met my gaze.
Her nostrils flared, and she glared at me. I found it amusing, until I recognized the emotion— hatred.
“There’s no need. We’ll marry just as we are. Bring the official here,” I said, my tone curt. Eldric’s eyes flashed, while Zara's began to fill with tears.
“I should at least change, since this will be my first and last time doing this,” she said softly. I could have granted her that.
But I am not a man with a heart.
“You’re fine as you are.” I turned to Eldric, whose glare quickly softened when I met his eyes.
“Bring the official,” I muttered calmly. He nodded to a guard, who hurried out as though his life depended on it. I watched the woman before me, her fists clenching and unclenching.
Despite the tears pooling in her eyes, none fell, making her stronger than she realized. She was a strong woman—and now, she was mine.
The priest arrived swiftly, his hands trembling as he led us through the vows, a dinner table between us.
Eldric tried to appear composed, but failed miserably. His men fared no better, their hands trembling as they attempted to hide their fear.
The only person who betrayed nothing was Zara.
The innocent girl who had entered my life was now a woman, and I was forcing my way into her life two decades later.
Eldric had no right to object when I claimed what was mine.
She was old enough, and we both knew he had no love for her. This marriage was simply a transaction, a convenient way to rid himself of her, while I claimed her. A win-win.
Zara stretched out her fingers as I pulled a ring from my pocket, the one I had carried for the last five years.
I leaned forward, touching her hand, feeling the slight tremor in it. My gaze held hers as I slid the band onto her finger.
“Skip the rest, and ask me to kiss my bride,” I ordered the priest, who nodded hastily as I held her hand in mine.
She swallowed, her elegant throat moving as I watched, wondering how it would feel beneath my hand.
“You may now kiss your bride,” the priest stammered. I released her hand, and stood to my full height before I rounded the table, ignoring Eldric’s and his quaking guards.
“This has been a long time coming, princess,” I murmured as I reached her. The fear in her eyes only heightened my desire.
Yes, she should fear me.
Wrapping my hand around her throat, I pressed my lips to hers, a single thought echoing through my mind.
Mine.
- Writer
