The Kidnapped Bride

I tried to move. My legs, my arms, anything. But I could not. I was chained to a wall, like an animal. My arms and legs were bound and there was a chain around my neck.

He was here. I could feel him. I could hear the steady rhythm of his breath.

I heard his footsteps getting nearer. I wanted to close my eyes, wait for it to happen. If I closed my eyes, probably the whipping would not hurt as much. But I did not. As he stepped in front of me, I glared at him defiantly.

I hated him. I hated his family. I hated his name. I hated everything about him.

“Why so angry, darling? I am your husband. You should show some love for me,” he said, a crooked smile playing at the side of his lips. Through the gap between his lips, I could see his sharp fangs, ready to sink into soft flesh.

“Fuck you!” I yelled.

“Tsk, darling. You are a noble born lady. Why be so vulgar?” He crouched down in front of me. His fingers trailed my face to my neck. I sucked in a breath. “Be sweet. Like you are raised to be. Or, were you planning to be like this with the man who almost married you?”

“I would never act like this with him. He is much better than you ever could be. I would have loved him and given him anything,” I said.

“Like what? Children?”

“Yes. I will never give you any children!”

“Please, darling. It’s not like I want any of those gremlins,” he said, shrugging. “However, you do have things to give me. Come now, let’s prepare for our wedding night.”

***

Even just this morning, I was on my way to marry Rezef Thorn. I was twenty-one. It was time. However, I was not ready. I did not even like Rezef that much. It was an arranged marriage between House Star and House Thorn. As much as I hated it, I had to oblige.

I remembered hugging my mother for a long time. Mother pressed me against her chest as if the world was ending and we would never see each other again. She probably knew how much I hated to get married. If I married, I would have to give birth, which I dreaded too much. I was afraid of giving birth. Noble marriages were done for that reason only. To give successors to your husband.

As a noble lady, I was taught that since I bled for the first time.

The venue was at a temple. I was not religious. I never pretended to be. But my family was and I had to do whatever they wanted me to do.

On the way in the carriage, I was shaking.

And then the shouting began. The clanking sounds of swords. The explosion. The pounding on the carriage door. The blood. Then someone yanking the carriage door open.

Someone pulled me out by my arm roughly. I fell to the ground. For a moment, all I could see was blood and bodies falling like statues to the ground. After just a second, I realized something else.

It was my chance to be free. Perhaps fate was giving me a chance at a new life.

I began running. I ran for a while until someone caught me by the waist and put something against my nose. And everything went black.

When I woke up, I was in ballroom filled with strangers. Someone was holding me straight.

Even then I had no idea it was my marriage. But not to Rezef Thorn.

But to Damien Silverclaw, the heir of House Silverclaw, the sworn enemy of House Star.