Chapter 7: Handsome Devil.
1140 Words
“The devil doesn’t always drag you to hellfire. Sometimes, he makes you call him husband.”—Sh
Rivera~•
I don’t give out hate tickets for free. But I think the Morozov had earned a lifetime free pass. I hadn’t needed a reason before to dislike Zayen Morozov or the Frostfangs, but after tonight, they had carved themselves into my list of enemies. The reasons didn’t matter. Hate was enough.
I hadn’t even said goodbye to Rico or Sean. I hadn’t even asked about Rhea. Instead, I’d been ushered—no, forced—into a car with him. No one shoved me, but choice had been stolen, which was all the same.
So I kept my eyes on the road, refusing to look at the man inches from me. A devil in human skin, scrolling through his phone like he hadn’t just conned the entire Direwolf pack. Papa had been blind, too blind to see it. I wasn’t. I’d always known this man bent rules until they broke, and tonight he had done exactly that.
The wedding dress hung to me suffocating despite the air conditioning. I was scared, no, that was an understatement— I was frightened but I refused to show it. Playing the helpless bride wouldn’t change a damn thing.
The car slowed before a sprawling estate. Zayen stepped out first, then opened my door, hand extended with mockery etched into his smile.
“C’mon,” he murmured. “What kind of husband would I be if I didn’t treat you well on our first night?”
I hesitated before taking his hand, only to snatch mine back the moment we crossed the grand staircase. His lips quirked as though my defiance amused him.
“That expression doesn’t suit you, Mikayla. It’s your wedding night—the least you could do is smile.”
Hatred burned so hot in my chest I thought it might consume me. Was this my life now? Was I truly supposed to call this man my husband?
I scoffed. “You’re delusional if you think I’ll ever see you as anything but the ugly devil you are.”
His brow arched. “That’s a first. Most women would kill to be in a room with me.”
“Looks mean nothing when the soul is rotten.”
It was a lie. He was drop dead hot as sin,—every line of his body, every angle of his face screamed raw danger and temptation . But that made him worse. The devil was never meant to be this handsome.
I forced myself to hold his gaze, to let my words cut instead of tremble. “If anything, I don’t even blame my sister for running when she had the chance. Maybe she saw you for what you are. Maybe she knew better than to let herself get shackled to a monster.”
His amusement flickered and fell. Two steps, and suddenly my back slammed against the wall. My breath caught as his body towered mine. He tilted his head and stopped only when his lips grazed the edge of my jaw, his breath scorching hot against my neck.
I heard him tsk.
I shoved at his chest, but it was all rock. When I tried again, his hands caught my wrist and pinned them high above my head with ruthless ease. My heart hammered with panic.
Was he going to take advantage of me?
“Wh–what are you—?”
“Tservana,” he interrupted, “It doesn’t matter if you call me your husband. But remember this—” his grip tightened, “—if you run, I will hunt you down. And I will find you. And when I do I’ll punish you in way you would never imagine, tservana. ”
My eyes widened at his shameless threat, a shiver ripping through me the instant he pulled away. Not only was he wicked—he was utterly shameless.
“Would you stop taunting the girl?”
The new voice snapped me from my thoughts. I turned, startled, to see Zorah leaning lazily against the fire mantel, her expression somewhere between boredom and annoyance.
Zayen didn’t move, but a grin returned back onto his face. “I thought you said you were leaving the country for good this time?”
Zorah didn’t look as pleased. “Don’t give me that clueless act, brother. You know what you did.”
She strode across the room with a roll of her eyes. “Let her breathe, for moon’s sake.”
Zayen gave me one last lingering look, the kind that made my stomach twist, before finally turning and leaving the room.
She walked to where I stood. “Excuse my brother. He’s an ass.” She smiled, or at least that’s what it looked like. “I’m Zorah.”
It took me a moment to shake free from the haze he’d left behind. I managed a stiff smile in return. I knew her—or at least I thought I did. Did she not remember me?
Still, I offered, “I’m Rive—”
“The Direwolf who was screwing my younger brother Niklai. I know you.”
Her bluntness made me freeze.
“Relax,” she added, waving a hand. “I won’t judge. You’re already in the worst possible predicament—married to Zayen. Trust me, I know a thing or two about being held captive by a Russian crime boss. The moon goddess never did like us women.”
“Held captive?” I echoed, brow arched.
She flopped onto the bed like she owned it. “My dearest brother promised I could leave this forsaken city after the wedding. Two hours later, he bought the airport and shut down all flights. Now?” She sighed dramatically, throwing her arm over her face. “I’m stuck here.”
I couldn’t stop the expression twisting across my features. This man wasn’t just ruthless, he was a psychopath. Rhea had no idea how lucky she was to have escaped him. And now it was clear escape was the only thing left for me too.
Zorah chuckled all of a sudden, and my head snapped in her direction. “Please, just stop that thought, I can already see the gears grinding in your head. Word of advice, don’t think for a second you can run away from my brother. No matter what part of the world you choose to hide, he’ll find you.”
She stretched lazily, then swung her legs off the bed. “I’ll see you around, Direwolf.”
The door shut behind her, and silence flooded back into the room.
But the moment she was gone, the thought came roaring back like a distressed alarm. I had to run the hell out of this place.
- Writer
