Untamable

Chapter 18 Bound

Margaret’s POV

I grew up in White City as the oldest daughter of the Evans family. My Dad John Evans, was a famous horse trainer known all around town. He met my mom, Violet, while delivering horses to my grandpa, Earl Hunter. Although Dad didn't have much money, he was quite popular. On the other hand, Mom's family was wealthy because they owned the biggest vineyard in White City. But Grandpa wasn't keen on letting Mom run the business just because she was a woman.

So, my parents came up with a plan. They decided to marry, with Dad getting 10% of what Mom could inherit, and then they'd go their separate ways. Funny enough, what started as a practical arrangement turned into real love for them.

A year after their wedding, I was born. The next year, my sister Alicia arrived, but sadly, it was a tough birth, and we lost Mom. Grandpa wasn't fond of us since we were girls. He was especially hard on Alicia, blaming her for Mom's passing.

Thankfully, Dad was amazing with us. Even though he had to look after Grandpa and run the vineyard, he always found time to play and teach us how to read and write.

Dad was a good man, and under his care, the vineyard flourished and even caught the attention of the royal family. They wanted us to be their exclusive wine suppliers, which brought the Evans family closer to the royals.

Alicia and I became regulars at the palace, using wine deliveries as an excuse to attend various parties. At these events, I met many noble ladies from different packs and made friends.

Dad always told us to be wary around the royals, saying they could be dangerous, but we were too young and curious to listen.

By the time I was 17, I was invited by Prince Jacob to his 18th birthday party. Alicia wanted to come along, but she caught a cold and couldn’t make it.

I was having a fantastic evening—sipping on wine, spinning around the dance floor, and laughing with the other guests as the music played on. The hall was alive with chatter and the soft glint of chandeliers, creating an atmosphere that felt almost magical.

But as the night wore on, the warmth of the room and the clinking of glasses began to blur together. I felt my head spin slightly, and the world around me seemed to sway. It was time to head home before my exhaustion turned my fun into regret.

Outside, the fireworks cracked and boomed in a sky full of sparkling colors. Each explosion seemed to pound in my head, and I winced at the noise. Prince Jacob, noticing my discomfort, offered to escort me. His suggestion seemed charming at the moment, and his noble presence felt reassuring. I nodded, feeling a bit flattered for being singled out by him.

As we stepped into the night, the party's lively noise faded, replaced by the quiet whispers of the garden. The air was cool and carried the scent of lilacs, rustling gently as a light breeze danced through the trees. But as we walked further, the palace lights grew distant, and I realized we were veering away from my way home, deeper into the shadows of the garden path. The realization felt like a slow drip of cold water down my spine, but tiredness fogged my thoughts, and all I could focus on was getting some rest.

Prince Jacob chuckled at something I said about being sleepy, the sound unexpectedly sharp in the silent garden. Suddenly, without warning, he lifted my dress, exposing my bare thigh to the night air.

Taken aback, I instinctively frowned and brushed his hand away, but his grip tightened on my wrist, pressing me firmly against the rough stone wall of the garden.

His breath, warm and close on my skin, sent a shiver down my spine. I tried to wriggle free, but his hold was strong. His eyes, intense and a little too bright, met mine.

"You're so beautiful, Margaret," he murmured.

"Thank you," I managed, trying to keep my voice steady despite the fear creeping in. "But could you let me go?"

He didn't reply with words, instead, his intentions were clear as he leaned in closer, brushing his lips against my neck. Panic bloomed inside me as I turned my head away.

"Please stop," I murmured, but my voice seemed to get lost in the echoes of the night and distant fireworks.

I yelled out, "Stop!" as loud as I could, my voice carrying through the shadowy garden. Prince Jacob's hand paused momentarily, but then his determination only intensified. His hand slid further, and my blood ran cold.

"No!" I repeated, my voice cracking as I begged, "Let me go. I'm not even of age!"

He smirked, his eyes roaming over me with a sense of entitlement. "You should feel honored, Margaret. It's not often I take such an interest."

"You're drunk," I said, trying to reason with him while pulling away with all my might. "Please, let me go."

He only held on tighter. "Why not consider this a birthday gift for me?"

I desperately looked around for help, but the gardens were empty. Sensing my intentions, he silenced me with his hand, but instinct took over, and I bit him hard.

His yelp of pain gave me the moment I needed. I turned on my heels and sprinted into the darkness, my heart pounding, his furious voice echoing in my ears.

“Come back, Margaret! Where do you think you’re going?” he shouted, his footsteps pounding close behind me.

The garden felt like a maze, the hedges closing in, and my vision blurred from the wine and tears. Still dizzy from the drink, I knew I couldn't afford to stop. I ran through the dark garden, unable to see where I was going, desperately trying to escape.Suddenly, up ahead, Prince James appeared, a hunting rifle slung across his back as if he had just returned from a hunt. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes when he saw us, but his expression quickly settled into a calm mask in the moonlight.

"Shoot her, James! Shoot her!" Prince Jacob's voice boomed with anger, tinged with a disturbing hint of excitement.

"No, no! Please, spare me! I'll do anything you want!" I pleaded desperately.

Frozen in fear, my heart nearly stopped as Prince James raised the rifle, aiming right at me. I closed my eyes, bracing for the end. The sharp crack of the rifle cut through the night, and everything went silent.

But death didn't claim me. Instead, it was Prince Jacob who fell, his eyes wide with shock as he crumpled to the ground. He looked at Prince James in disbelief, convulsed briefly, and then lay still.

"Sorry, brother," Prince James said, his voice steady as he wiped the rifle with a cloth.

My mind reeled, trying to process what had just happened. "You... you killed him," I said, my voice barely more than a whisper.

"To save you," he stated flatly. Then he tilted his head, his eyes piercing through me, “Would you do me a favour in turn?”

I nodded quickly, not daring to argue.

"Good," he replied, satisfied. "Then help me dispose of the body before dawn."

In a heartbeat, my terror of Jacob transformed into a wary alliance with James, my hands shaking as I helped him, knowing this moment would forever change the course of my life.

"Won't people notice he's missing?" I asked anxiously as we carried the body outside the palace.

"They're all too plastered with wine and distracted by fireworks," James sneered. "Besides, the noise makes for a convenient cover-up."

"You didn't do this to save me," I said, meeting his cold gaze. "You planned to kill him all along, didn’t you?"

"Smart girl," James replied with a nod that felt as chilling as the night air.

Instead of any relief, dread tightened in my chest. "How did you know he'd be here and not at the party?"

"He has a disgusting ritual," James said with disgust. "Every year on his birthday, Jacob would lure a girl into the garden. I've cleaned up more than a few 'uncooperative' messes for him."

"Then why did you choose to kill him today and not me?" I asked, my voice quaking.

"Because he can't see his nineteenth birthday," James stated coldly. "Father might favor him over me for the throne if he had the chance. Even though I'm the elder son and rightful heir, Father has always had a soft spot for his concubine’s child. It's better to eliminate the competition before it becomes a threat."

I held my breath, utterly speechless, as I watched him drag the body to a nearby hayride and promptly set it ablaze.

“He’s gone," James said with a satisfied gleam in his eyes as he watched the flames dance.

“Wha… what if people get suspicious about the burning hayride?”

"Folks will just think it was a festive mishap with the fireworks," James replied, fixing me with a long, deliberate stare.

Under his intense gaze, my knees went weak, and I found myself kneeling in fear, worried he might decide to kill me too.

"Thinking I'm debating whether to kill you?" James chuckled, looking down at me with amusement. "Girl from the Evans family, you’ve got quite the intuition. Your father is a reputable businessman, and I trust he passed some of that onto you. You did promise to do whatever I ask, did you not?"

“Yes,”I nodded quickly.

"I hope you’re worth the investment. Tell me, are you valuable?"

“Yes,” I replied, trying to keep the tremor out of my voice.

"Excellent," James said with a sly smile, "Then I’ll marry you when you age eighteen, and you’ll be my queen."

"What?" I blurted out, genuinely shocked.

"Three reasons. First, you witnessed me kill Jacob. It's either welcome you into the family or silence you forever. Second, my father keeps nagging me to settle down. And third, you have the social skills I lack. People like you, Margaret, and that's quite… useful. I’ve noticed everyone seems to prefer the charming Jacob, including you," he added with a dark chuckle.

A wave of shame washed over me, coloring my cheeks.

"Do you have any questions about this arrangement?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"None," I said quickly.

"You do understand this is purely a strategic marriage, not one of love, right?" he continued.

"I understand," I replied, secretly clinging to a thread of hope—maybe, like my parents, we might find love in unexpected places.

"Very well, then it’s settled, Lady Evans," James said, extending his hand to help me up. "I look forward to our partnership."

With hesitation, I took his hand to rise from the ground, and as I did, a curious spark of electricity surged through my arm.

He's my fated one.