Arrival Of The Bride
1186 Words
EZEKIEL'S POV
She sat stiffly.
Back straight, hands folded over her lap, and her chest lightly rising and falling in shallow breaths. He could feel the despise, the nervousness, the fear that radiated from her.
Fear?
Ah, that's right. He had quite the reputation to him, didn't he?
He didn't imagine any woman would be thrilled to marry a man whose reputation was built on the number of lives he had taken and blood he'd shed.
The infamous Ruthless King.
Ezekiel never bothered to stop the rumors. To the best of his knowledge, they were accurate.
He watched her fingers clench the folds of her dress, pale knuckles pressing into the silk brocade.
She tried to look out the window, tried turning her mind elsewhere, but she couldn't escape him.
Not when every movement, every heartbeat, every breath she drew made his gaze hungrier.
Mine, he thought.
The word rolled in his brain like a drumbeat. She was his now, legally, irrevocably, and he would not allow anyone—r anything—to touch what was his.
The road dipped, and she shifted slightly, losing balance. His hand shot out before he could even think, curling around her wrist in a firm grip.
The heat of her pulse burned into his fingers, and he allowed himself a brief moment. She felt so fragile.
Her breath caught, her cheeks turning crimson. He let her snatch her wrist away.The disgust was written so evidently upon her face.
It was obvious that his touch repulsed her.
The carriage rattled on. Shadows danced across her face while he studied her, his eyes seemingly memorizing every part of her into his mind. And it all intrigued him that no one else would see her like that.
Even though she hated him with all her being, she continued to be his.
No one else would touch her, look at her, or even have the audacity to fantasize about her. She was his, and the thought was a dark, perfect pleasure he indulged in quietly.
***
For Lilith, it seemed to take an eternity before they reached Ravar.
It was as if the whole world had shrunk into that little space in between them in the carriage.
He did not once look away, not through the lengthy hours of the carriage ride. Not when they had stopped to have luncheon and stretch their legs.
It was already dusk. They had ridden for over half the day and she was tired.
Even worse, not a word had been spoken between them since they'd left the castle.
Was he angry? She couldn't tell. He had on the same blank expression every time she stole a glance.
“How long until Ravar?.” She heard herself ask, rather flatly.
His brows shot up at her words.
“You speak?”
Lilith had to bite down the sentence on the tip of her tongue.
"I had nothing to say to you, Your Majesty."
“You shall call me by name, angel. We are married after all.”
“Yes…of course.” She gritted.
“Say it.” He ordered.
“E-Ezekiel.”
He closed his eyes briefly when she did. She wasn't so sure she wanted to know why.
After some time, he replied. “Anytime now. Are you so repulsed by my presence that you want to depart from me?”
Lilith almost laughed out loud. “Your presence and every other thing about you; it all repulse me.”
She heard him chuckle.
She insulted him, and all he did was laugh?
Why not order for her head as she did him?
There was a dark look in his eyes as he leaned towards her, which made her cringe back on reflex.
"Too bad, angel. You belong beside me now. I am not going to let you out of my sight."
He fingered the stray lock of her hair his hand had been itching to hold.
Lilith flinched when he did.
She couldn't explain the sudden change in the rhythm of her heartbeat, the weaknesses in her knees, or the strange feeling just below her belly.
What was he doing to her?
"I loathe you."
“I know, angel.”
"Stop calling me that." She clenched her fists at her sides.
Something cruel glinted in his eyes. "I will call you what I wish, my angel, and you will answer."
His hand righted the stray strands of her hair, then hovered over her neck.
That stretch of milky white flesh.
He longed to feel just how soft it was underneath his fingers.
Her breathing was erratic, chest rising and falling in shallow breaths. She was blatantly scared, yet her blue eyes glared back at him.
No one dared look him in the eye. She…
She is magnificent, he thought.
His hand fell as he backed off and turned silent again.
Soon after, an announcement was made about reaching Ravar.
***
Lilith watched as they rode along the capital road, towards her new home.
She had expected a fancy welcome-people cheering, waving to them-but all she met was long trails of decorated empty roads. Not a single soul in sight.
Even his people fear him, she thought to herself.
There was no cheer. Not a word after their names were announced. It was quiet, dark and gloomy.
It was an ominous place, Ravar.
Ravar palace was even gloomier.
The carriage stopped, and Ezekiel got down. She ignored his outstretched hand and climbed down the steps herself. Some guards gasped in shock at her display of disrespect.
Although it was dark, she could make the color and structure of the grand castle very well. It was menacing, and cold. Just like it's king.
“You will be shown to your chamber. I will see you tonight.”
Lilith tried not to flinch at his words. She hadn't forgotten that it was their wedding day, to be followed by a wedding night.
In fact, she had taken lessons on the subject. She was to give herself to him in every possible manner. That was what a bride did, after all.
I'll be damned if I let him touch me
Lilith watched his broad figure walk away, some guards going with him.
She was taken to her quarters. Lilith tried not to gawk as she was led through the pristine lobby. Handale was a thriving kingdom but Ravar was on another level entirely. Her room looked like a quarter on its own.
Her gaze caught the big white bed. The crimson blankets that coloured it almost made her shiver. It was the first time she'd ever seen a bed appear so... intimate.
"My Lady, I am Martha, your lady's maid and this is Millie, Selene, Margaret.."
Lilith watched the woman introduce the dozen other women in the room.
"It is nice to meet you all. I hope we get along well."
They chorused a response so perfectly Lilith idly wondered if they had rehearsed it.
The first one —Martha— stepped forward.
"Now you must make haste and undress, My lady. The King awaits you."
- Writer
