Chapter 4

Nolan:

She stood across from me like a flame barely contained, eyes defiant, lips trembling just slightly, as if she’d rather bite through her own tongue than say the words that were expected of her. And truth be told, I would have wished that she didn't say them if it came from her. If she was the one who chose not to want this marriage, I would easily be out of it.

But she said them anyway. Regardless of how I wanted things to be, she still chose to say the words.

“I do.”

My jaw ticked. I glared at her before forcing myself to calm down, reminding myself that we were amongst people.

So I said them too.

“I do.”

The officiant smiled like this was some kind of love story. His voice rang out, thick with pomp and tradition. “You may now kiss the bride.”

I stepped forward, slow. Measured. Her eyes widened just slightly, not in fear, no, she didn’t fear me. That was the problem. It was something else. Curiosity, maybe. Or disappointment. She didn't want me to kiss her.

Too bad.

This was a duty and the two of us were going to have to take part of it. We were going to have to play the show.

I leaned in and pressed my lips to hers.

Not soft.

Not deep.

Just enough.

Just enough to mark the moment. Just enough to show the world that the two of us were lovers. Just enough to show them that we would be following our end of the deal.

Her breath caught, but she didn’t pull back. I felt the tension in her spine, the way her fingers twitched as if unsure whether to shove me or hold on. I pulled away to look her in the eye, smirking as I found her lips trembling.

And somewhere beyond the scattered petals and candlelight, I felt Mira’s eyes burning holes into my back.

Good.

Let her burn.

This was a deal and her being upset about it was not going to change anything. She needed to understand the duty that I was carrying on my shoulders.

I looped my arm around Natalia’s waist before she could get clever ideas, guiding her down the steps with the weight of control in every motion. She walked beside me like she didn’t know whether to flinch or lean in. Everyone's eyes were on us, I smiled, making sure that they could take the best pictures.

She looked up at me once the crowd began to clap.

“It’s you,” she said quietly. “You saw me and you did nothing to stop it.”

I didn’t pretend to misunderstand.

“Guilty.”

Her brows pinched. “Why were you there? At the bridge? You didn't even care.”

“As far as you're concerned, I was smoking.” I let out a short breath of a laugh, but there was no humor in it. “It would’ve been awkward to miss my own bride’s suicide attempt. I chose not to interfere, but I knew that you were going to step back anyway.”

“I plan to run away, not to end my life. You're not that worth it.”

“Well, you had your chance, but now you're looked up to me. I believe that you realize that it's going to be the biggest mistake that you've made so far.”

She stiffened, but I didn’t give her space to reply. The ballroom doors opened before us, and the band struck up something sweet and slow.

The crowd watched, waiting for their fairy tale.

I pulled her forward, onto the dance floor.

“To keep up appearances,” I murmured. “You know, everyone is watching.”

She blinked. “What appearances? It's not like they don't know that this is an arranged marriage. As far as they're concerned, you might even have a lover.”

I slid one hand to her waist, the other catching her fingers. I chose to ignore her comment, knowing that responding was not going to do me any good. I did not even owe her an explanation at all. Our bodies fell into rhythm, though she moved like she wanted answers.

“That I’m not a heartless bastard,” I said, brushing my mouth close to her ear. “I am choosing to be kind, but do not mistake that for weakness.”

A pause.

“Is that so?” She asked, looking me dead in the eye, her eyes breathing fire, a fire that I found more than I wanted to admit, intriguing. “And I think that you're mistaking my silence for submission.”

“That you are, wife. As far as I'm concerned, things are different now. You're not in your father's house and you're not going by his rules.” I said, twirling her before pulling her back towards me, her back to my chest as I rested my chin over her shoulder. “Things are different now, and you're going to start submitting to that. Unless, of course, you want to deal with problems.”