Chapter 4: The Seduction Plan
1472 Words
There were many ways to survive a marriage to a man who was destined to kill you.
Running away.
Blackmail.
Poison.
Finding another husband.
Mira suggested the last one.
I suggested the first three.
We were sitting on the floor of my bedroom, surrounded by dresses, books, and enough hairpins to start a small war.
“This is ridiculous,” Mira muttered.
I held up a black dress.
“This one.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because it makes you look like you're attending your own funeral.”
I looked at the dress.
She had a point.
I threw it aside.
“What about this?”
She stared.
“That is practically transparent.”
“Exactly.”
“You're going to seduce him.”
“That is the plan.”
“You're going to seduce your husband.”
“Yes.”
“The man who kills you.”
“Not if I do it properly.”
Mira sighed.
“I can't believe we're actually doing this.”
I smiled.
“We have three choices.”
She held up one finger.
“Run.”
“Eventually, someone will find us.”
Second finger.
“Kill them first.”
“I'm not murdering anyone.”
“Fine.”
Third finger.
“Make our husbands obsessed with us.”
Mira stared at me.
“That's your brilliant plan?”
“Yes.”
She was silent.
Then she slowly smiled.
“Honestly?”
“What?”
“I've read enough of this book to know those men are extremely susceptible to jealousy.”
I grinned.
“Exactly.”
“And possessiveness.”
“Exactly.”
“And physical attraction.”
“Especially that.”
Mira laughed.
“This is going to be a disaster.”
I looked at her.
“Probably.”
Then I picked up another dress.
“But at least it'll be an entertaining disaster.”
---
Our plan had three rules.
Rule one:
Never chase.
Rule two:
Make them notice.
Rule three:
Never let them forget that we are their wives.
It sounded simple.
It wasn't.
Cassian Blackthorne was not an easy man to impress.
He was surrounded by beautiful women constantly.
Noblewomen flirted with him.
Widows wanted him.
Young ladies dreamed about him.
And he ignored every single one.
Which meant I couldn't simply smile at him and expect him to fall at my feet.
I needed patience.
And opportunity.
Fortunately, I had one.
Dinner.
That evening, I dressed carefully.
Nothing outrageous.
A dark red gown.
Bare shoulders.
A fitted waist.
My hair pinned loosely enough that a few strands framed my face.
Mira appeared at my door.
She looked me up and down.
“Oh.”
I smiled.
“Good?”
“Dangerous.”
“Perfect.”
She was wearing a soft emerald dress.
I raised an eyebrow.
“You're not going to pretend you're innocent, are you?”
She shrugged.
“I'm married to a Blackthorne.”
“Fair.”
We walked downstairs together.
And immediately, I knew the plan was working.
Adrian looked at Mira first.
Then Cassian looked at me.
He didn't say anything.
He simply stared.
His gaze moved slowly over me before returning to my face.
I smiled.
“Good evening, husband.”
His jaw tightened.
“Good evening.”
Mira leaned toward me.
“He's staring.”
“I noticed.”
“Don't smile.”
“Why?”
“You look smug.”
“I am smug.”
Across the table, Adrian cleared his throat.
Mira looked at him.
“What?”
“You're whispering.”
“We're talking.”
“You've been whispering for five minutes.”
Mira smiled sweetly.
“Jealous?”
Adrian's eyes narrowed.
“Yes.”
Mira nearly choked.
I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing.
Adrian leaned closer to her.
“I don't particularly enjoy sharing my wife's attention.”
Mira's cheeks turned pink.
“Oh.”
He smiled.
“Problem?”
“No.”
“Good.”
He leaned back.
“But I hope you're aware that I'm keeping score.”
Mira looked horrified.
I nearly laughed aloud.
This was going better than expected.
---
Later that evening, I found Cassian alone in the library.
Perfect.
He was standing by the window, reading.
I walked inside.
He looked up.
“You're awake late.”
“So are you.”
“I have work.”
“I have nothing to do.”
His eyes returned to his book.
“You could sleep.”
“I could.”
I moved closer.
“But I don't want to.”
His eyes lifted again.
“Why?”
I shrugged.
“Maybe I wanted to see you.”
Silence.
His expression changed.
Barely.
But I saw it.
I walked toward the bookshelf.
“Do you always work this late?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I have responsibilities.”
“Do you ever relax?”
“No.”
“That sounds miserable.”
He looked at me.
“Does it?”
“Yes.”
I turned toward him.
“You should try it.”
“Try what?”
“Relaxing.”
“How?”
I smiled.
“I don't know.”
I stepped closer.
“Perhaps your wife could help.”
His gaze darkened.
The room suddenly felt warmer.
“You're playing a dangerous game.”
My heart beat faster.
“I don't know what you mean.”
“You do.”
I smiled.
“Perhaps.”
He closed his book.
The sound seemed strangely loud.
Then he stood.
He was much taller up close.
I had known that from the book.
Knowing it and experiencing it were two different things.
He stopped in front of me.
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why are you suddenly behaving like this?”
I looked up at him.
Because I knew you were going to kill me.
Because I knew exactly what you would become.
Because I refuse to let that happen.
Instead, I said,
“Maybe I've realized I don't know my husband very well.”
His eyes searched mine.
“And you want to?”
“Yes.”
His voice dropped.
“Do you?”
I swallowed.
“Yes.”
For several seconds, neither of us moved.
Then Cassian lifted one hand.
My heart jumped.
His fingers brushed a loose strand of hair away from my face.
The touch was surprisingly gentle.
His hand lingered near my cheek.
“You should be careful, Aria.”
I smiled softly.
“Why?”
“Because if you keep looking at me like that…”
He paused.
His eyes dropped briefly to my lips.
“…I may start believing you actually want me.”
My breath caught.
I forced myself to hold his gaze.
“Maybe I do.”
His expression changed.
Something dangerous flickered in his eyes.
Then he stepped away.
“Goodnight, Aria.”
And walked out.
I stood there alone.
Completely stunned.
Then I whispered,
“Oh, we're definitely winning.”
---
Across the estate, Mira was having her own problem.
Adrian had cornered her in the sitting room.
“You're behaving strangely.”
Mira blinked.
“I'm always strange.”
“Not like this.”
She smiled.
“Perhaps you're noticing me more.”
His smile disappeared.
“Perhaps.”
He stepped closer.
Mira took one step back.
He took another forward.
“You've been dressing differently.”
“So?”
“You've been smiling at me.”
“I am your wife.”
“You've been touching me more.”
Mira froze.
Adrian smiled.
“Do you want something?”
She swallowed.
“Maybe.”
“What?”
She looked up at him.
“You.”
For once, Adrian had nothing clever to say.
Mira smiled triumphantly.
Then walked away.
She found me ten minutes later.
I was still sitting in the library.
She burst through the door.
“I did it.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“I flirted with him.”
“And?”
“He forgot how to speak.”
I grinned.
“So did Cassian.”
We stared at each other.
Then slowly—
we began laughing.
Maybe we were doomed.
Maybe the story was already waiting to destroy us.
Maybe knowing the future wouldn't be enough.
But for the first time since waking up here, I didn't feel helpless.
Because our husbands weren't looking at us like strangers anymore.
They were looking at us like women.
Wives.
Desires they hadn't expected to have.
And somewhere beneath all that attraction, something far more dangerous was beginning.
Attachment.
We had wanted to seduce them.
But we had forgotten one important thing.
Seduction works both ways.
And if Cassian Blackthorne decided he wanted me…
I wasn't entirely sure I'd have the strength to resist him.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD