Changing Her Stars

Chapter Three

Hot. Beads of sweat dripped down her forehead, and she felt like she was on fire. Leira tried pushing away from the source of the heat, searching for something to cool her down. There was a hard and firm grip on her waist, however, that kept her from going far. Wrenching her eyes open, she was astonished to see a man lying next to her, holding her to him. He had dark brown, almost black hair that had fallen into his face. She was certain she’d seen his face somewhere but couldn’t quite place him.

She was yet again in another room. This one was decorated in dark greys and black with a touch of red as an accent. She had spent roughly another week in the navy room, and she’d just begun to grow used to it as she went in and out of sleep.

Struggling in his grip, she wriggled around until finally she felt him loosen his hold on her. Leira then made her escape by rolling over and using her left arm to prop herself up, using the sheets to cover her near nakedness. It had taken her all of her energy to do such a small movement. Catching her breath, she then geared herself up to stand. Her body was sluggish and heavy, and she knew that she needed to move it. Though, this was the best she’d felt in months. Her back no longer pained her, and her ears didn’t ring anymore. She knew she needed to begin exercising her body once more to bring back all of the strength she once had.

Right as she was about to move off from the bed, she felt a large arm encircle her waist.

“What are you doing?” a gruff voice asked.

Leira froze, feeling the bed shift as the man scooched closer to her until his bare chest was pressed against her back.

“I said, what are you doing? Don’t you speak?”

Her tongue was glued to the roof of her mouth, and her body stiffened as he sighed.

“I didn’t bring you back from the brink of death to be a mute. At least say something,” he said, sounding tired and bored.

“W-who are you?” Leira forced herself to ask.

Her voice was wispy and hoarse from lack of use. She winced at her own words. She didn’t even sound like herself. If this was her first impression, it was a dreadful one indeed.

“I’m your husband.”

Though she had already known the answer, her heart dropped in terror. It hadn’t been a dream. All of this was real, and she was once again going to be married to someone who had purchased her.

“Your name?” she whispered.

“Rin.”

Leira frowned. She didn’t know anyone named Rin. She quickly wracked her brain but drew a blank. As far as she knew, no one went by that name.

“Title?”

He sighed. “You really want to know?”

“Won’t I soon enough?” she quipped back before she could stop herself.

Hastily, she covered her mouth with her right hand. She had spoken to him without thinking and in a sarcastic manner. This could earn his wrath not to mention a whipping. Her ex-husband had been severe with her whenever she’d spoken out of turn.

It was, however, his laughter that finally made her turn to her to look into his deep green eyes. He wasn’t scowling at her or even seemed upset with her. Instead, he gazed down at her with a lazy smile.

“That is true, I suppose. My title will become your title tomorrow, won’t it? Let me properly introduce myself. I am Duke Eldrin Montero, and I’m honored to finally meet you, Lady Leira Freemont. Though, I would prefer it if you only addressed me as Rin.”

Leira’s eyes grew wide at his declaration. There was only one Montero, and he was rumored to be a beast of a man. He was said to have single handedly won the war some odd years prior for the king, even outperforming the prince. Though he was a public figure, there was a lot of mystery surrounding him, which created a lot of false narratives. He was favored by the king, beloved by the people, and a hero to all.

Over ten years ago, the small skirmishes between the different kingdoms broke out into a fight for survival. The kingdom of Linora, which was home to the elves, and the kingdom of Khin Kohldur, which was home to the dwarves, were fighting over land disputes. And though the human kingdom of Croxair had no quarry with either race, the battles were encroaching on the neutral ground shared between the three kingdoms. With the bloodshed drawing closer to the capital city of Loris, King Arden Gerville had ordered his men to protect the neutral ground and put an end to the fighting. Duke Montero had led the charge and negotiated the peace treaties between the two, thus solving the crisis.

Roughly two years ago, Duke Montero led another battle against ghouls who had infiltrated the neutral ground and had been conducting experiments on anyone they had captured. It had been a gruesome endeavor, with Duke Montero once again the kingdom’s hero.

“You’re the Duke Montero?” she squeaked.

“Rin to you, but yes,” he corrected. “Though I was a little worried that you wouldn’t know who I was. I’m glad to see those fears were baseless.”

“Everyone knows who you are,” she breathed.

He chuckled again. “Oh? Is that so?”

Leira nodded in a stunned silence. How was she supposed to be at ease with this man? How could he have an arm wrapped around her and act so casually? He was a war hero, but was also known to be a cold and heartless man. He had been seen with a different woman each night of his month-long return feast. Leira had remembered hearing about the scandal he’d caused within high society. He’d been labeled a ruthless playboy with insatiable habits. And now, she was expected to marry him. Though, true to the papers that constantly gossiped about him, he was handsome. He was muscular with many scars covering his chest, a clear jawline, and a day’s stubble on his chin and cheeks. His green eyes complimented nicely with his dark hair that somehow always seemed to flop over his forehead and eye.

“T-tomorrow?”

“Yes, tomorrow. I’ve waited long enough, and besides, the doctor finally cleared you. So, tomorrow we wed.”

She was quiet with contemplation.

“Tell me, Leira, your father said you were sick. However, when I found you, you were half dead and beaten to within an inch of your life. Is that how your household treats the ill?”

His words were direct but sliced her deeply. There was a blatant anger weaved into his tone, and she could see his rage in his eyes. She instinctively shrank away from him, not knowing how to deal with such vexation or what would happen whether she lied or told him the truth. Silence would be her only option, and so, she remained quiet.

“Do you usually not answer questions directed at you?” he asked bitterly.

She swallowed uncomfortably. His joyous mood only moments ago had instantly turned sour, and his cold eyes peered at her in frustration.

Suddenly, he let go of her, which caused her to fall forward. She hadn’t realized that she’d involuntarily been using him to hold her up. Within seconds, he caught her before she could hit the floor, his lower body still on the bed while his arms wrapped around her tightly, cushioning her fall.

“Just how accident prone are you?” he mumbled, irritated.

“You’re the one who let go,” she huffed back.

There was a humorous glint that flashed for a moment in his eyes, but then it was gone. “Do you only know how to speak when you have a witty comment to make?”

She accepted the insult, criticizing herself for speaking out of turn yet again. She saw how easily he acted upon his anger, so it wouldn’t be long before he used her as an outlet. She needed to be careful with her words. Her father’s threat lingered in her ears. She would not receive a third chance.

“I apologize, m’lord,” she said quietly. “I do not mean to exasperate you.”

Using his legs and core strength, he hoisted himself back onto the bed, bringing her with him and setting her in his lap.

“I like your wit,” he commented absently. “You don’t need to apologize. I just want to know if that’s how you were usually treated in that man’s house.”

“I…” Leira trailed off, feeling incredibly out of sorts. “I am at the mercy of whoever’s in charge.”

Leaning back, he took a strand of her hair and began playing with it. “Is that so?” he asked, staring at her. “Well, if anyone so much as looks at you in a manner I despise, they shall lose their eyes.”

Though she was surprised to hear him say such a thing, she didn’t doubt the look on his face. He meant every word, and as she studied him, she couldn’t help but let her eyes wander over his muscled torso and biceps. She became hyper aware of their bodies touching and felt uncomfortable under his gaze. He was a handsome man, more so than the rumors had let on, but she couldn’t understand why he had chosen her over the other women she was sure were lined up to be with him.

“Starting tomorrow, you shall be the lady of my house. You shall be my duchess. You shall be mine.”

His words sent shivers down her spine, and she looked away from him, unable to take it any longer.

“What are you thinking about in that little head of yours?” he blurted. “Normally, I have no issues with reading women’s expressions, and men are so easy to understand. But you, you guard your facial expressions under that mask of yours.”

“Uhh,” she stalled, taken aback by his sudden curiosity.

The door opened as a maid quietly entered the room. She stopped quickly and curtsied when she saw them both on the bed.

“My apologies, m’lord. I didn’t know ya’d still be in ‘ere, seeing as ‘ow it’s breakfast time ‘n all,” she said, her face beet red.

“Yes,” the duke drawled. “I’m usually training my men by now, but how could I leave such an exquisite creature in my bed without thoroughly expecting every inch of her?”

Leira was mortified and covered her chest with her hands. She dropped her head in shame as he chuckled with glee.

“How easily she gets embarrassed. Won’t this be fun, eh Hilda?” he continued with a huge grin.

As Hilda, the maid, set her breakfast down on a nearby table, the duke extracted himself from her. He then sent the maid away and changed into his training gear, not even hiding himself from her view, which turned Leira’s face an even darker shade of red. Bending down over her, he placed a hard but passionate kiss on her lips, savoring the moment.

“Until tonight, Leira. Eat everything on each plate Hilda gives you. Take a tour of the manor or do whatever you want. Just be here, in this bed, when I return,” he said as he left the room.