Chapter three

Chapter three

I found a seat a bit far from the guests and sat down. when I saw a waitress passing with drinks I quickly motioned her over and took two glasses off her tray.

I think it's better to be drunk on a day like this.

I hadn't even taken a sip when I noticed most of the guests were murmuring and staring at me. I placed the glass on the table and folded my hands under my breasts.

what now?

two women walked past me hand -in-hand snickering, others were just stealing glances at me.

I stood up and walked to my mother who was standing in the midst of some middle aged women.

What's happening mom?"

She took in a deep breath. "nothing to worry about, go seat down."

"I won't. not untill I know what's going on."

"fine!," she screamed, looking irritated. "Your husband of barely an hour is having sex with the ambassador's daughter as we speak. Are you that plain? your husband has to go running to another woman barely and hour after you got married?"

They was a roar of laughter.

My chest tightened. I wanted to run out of the place but Alexander suddenly walked in, the woman I realized was the ambassador's daughter was right behind smiling like she won a lottery.

I knew this marriage wasn't real, but he didn't have to disrespect me like that. Before I could tell him how I felt, he coldly announced to everyone that the wedding was over and everyone should leave.

The guests were surprised but started filing out. Even my parents and the ambassador's daughter followed suit.

As the last guest left the enormous wedding reception hall, the air clung to my skin like silk. The wilted rose bouquet slipped from my numb fingers. I had forgotten to throw it at the enthusiastic bridesmaids, and that was probably the best thing I’d done all day.

Not passing this curse on to someone else.

I stood frozen in silence, flinching at the slightest sound. The nightmare was about to unfold.

Alexander strode towards me, walking like he had all the time in the world. His tailored suit was gone. His black shirt hung open, exposing his broad chest, muscles rippling with restrained fury.

“Aria,” he murmured.

His voice was a low rumble that vibrated through my entire body as he closed the distance and loomed over me. He was close, too close. Invading my personal space.

Driven by instinct, I shoved at his chest, desperate for space, for air. The gigantic ring on my finger scraped across his skin, leaving a jagged red mark that quickly filled with blood. My heart slammed violently against my ribs.

I just wanted room to breathe. Everyone had been stealing my breath since dawn and he can't touch me. Not after he had touched another woman.

“I didn’t mean to do that,” I whispered, backing away until my spine hit the cold wall.

He’s going to kill me. I braced for a blow. Nothing came.

Instead, he glanced at the blood on his chest, then lifted his gaze back to me. His expression was a dark veil.

“Do you know how easy it would be for me to snap your neck?”

As easy as breaking a stick of spaghetti. A quick death hadn’t crossed my mind; I had expected something slow and drawn out. Something that would give me time to escape.

“Then you won’t get the satisfaction you crave,” I whispered, hoping to make him reconsider.

“Punishing you won’t give me satisfaction,” he said calmly. “Your death will. You’re only alive because I need your father to peacefully sign over what belongs to me. I would have offered him your blood the day we met if peace wasn’t sacred to what I intend to retrieve, doll.”

“I’m not a doll,” I snapped, my fear momentarily overshadowed by a flare of anger.

“You loved being called a doll,” he countered. “The clips I watched even showed your reaction whenever the brutes called you that.” His mouth twitched into a sadistic smile as he prowled closer.

The word burned like bile. I knew he was referring to Aria, but I had always hated it. My brother had spat it at me once, and the memory of what followed still gave me nightmares.

“That was for them. I prefer you call me something else,” I blurted, knowing that if I demanded he stop, he’d use it as a weapon.

Alexander’s eyes darkened.

His jaw tightened.

With a violent tug, he shredded the bodice of my gown.

Crystals clattered to the floor like stones as the heavy silk tore apart, exposing me. My chest hitched with frantic breaths.

“Every man gives you a name?” he growled. “The nerve of you, Aria. The fucking nerve.”

His hand closed around my breast, kneading it roughly. Pain flared first, sharp and shocking.

Then pleasure followed, shooting straight to my core.

Arousal was the last thing I expected to feel, and it terrified me.

“By the time I'm done with you, you won't even have the strength to concern yourself with names," he continued, his voice dropping to a lethal whisper. “If you wanted to betray me so badly, you should have at least picked a winning side.”

Tears burned my eyes as his fingers twisted. The sensation was a wicked blend of pain and heat. I felt a sudden, shaming wetness inside me.

"But there's no winning side, is there? In our world, there can only be a survivor. Someone whose blood wasn't completely drained."

I stared at the blood on his chest. He didn’t care. I was forced to believe a "good day" for Alexander involved bloodied shirts and bodies on floors. I felt nauseous, but I forced myself to stay upright. Aria wouldn’t faint at the sight of blood. Now, neither could I.

Alexander lowered his mouth to my nipple, sucking harshly. I felt every pull, every stroke of his tongue, as the heat between my thighs bloomed. His hand hiked my gown up, bunching the fabric around my waist. My knees turned to jelly when he forced them apart with his own, the rough fabric of his pants grinding against my inner thighs.

“Which surgeon did the work this time?” he asked suddenly, his voice a velvety murmur. “I hate to admit it, but it looks perfect. Too perfect.”

He didn’t wait for an answer before latching onto me again. My body betrayed me, responding with sharp jolts of pleasure.

"please stop," I managed to say. "you were with another woman few minutes ago."

"You wish you were there to watch?"

"No, I wish you'd at least show me a tiny bit of respect." I said without thinking.

He glared at me.

"I'll show you what respect is."