|06

ARIA AKA RED

The sound of birds singing gradually awakens me from my slumber. As I pry open my eyelids, I observe the dust particles dancing in the beam of sunlight that fills my room.

The exact same room which is not mine. Similar to this bed, these clothes, and the four walls that enclose me. 

Fortunately, there are two glass doors that open to a terrace that overlooks a stunning rose garden.

My heart drops into the pit of my stomach when I remember why I'm here and who I'm herewith. I lift my hand, touching the gold chain around my neck feeding off the subtle strength it provides me with when I desperately need it.

I sigh while sitting straight, and my stomach thinks that now is the ideal time to remind me that...

"You skipped dinner last night." His baritone voice which feels like little feet drumming on my flesh reverberates across the room.

I yelp, placing a trembling hand over my heart as it begins to race. 

My breath hitches as I search the room and our eyes meet, colliding. In the corner of the room, Artemis Volkov is seated in an armchair with his fingertips galloping over the armrests. The delicate lines that are embedded in his face suggest that he is in a foul mood.

"I didn't feel like eating," I reply as I look down at my fingers twisting between the bedsheet.

"Is this your plan? To starve yourself so you can return home to daddy?" His voice is firm with a hint of displeasure.

I gulp, "No." I say shaking my head. 

[Good.] "Khoroshiy, because there is no going back home until I can learn to trust you." He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees.

I raise my gaze to meet his, "So I'm a prisoner now?" My voice quivers upon releasing a gusty breath.

"That's not what I said."

"You didn't have to. I'm wise enough to be able to read between the lines, Wolf." I snarl, eliciting a dark chuckle from him.

"You will eat three main meals a day. If I have to force-feed you myself like a child, so be it. It could be fun." A smirk stains his oddly handsome face.

I throw back the blankets, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed, and I turn to face him with my hands resting on my hips. "Whatever helps you sleep at night." I scoff, shamelessly drinking him in as desire taints my burning flesh like a forbidden plague. "Did you sit in the corner all night watching me sleep like some dirty creep?" My tongue darts out sweeping over my dry lips.

A devilish smirk spreads across his face as his eyes fill with amusement. He runs the pad of his thumb along his bottom lip, pushing off the chair as he rises to his full height. "I can do whatever I want, Red. You now live in my world, and the Wolf has caught your scent." He says gruffly approaching me ever so slowly. 

With every step he takes, I take one back trying to keep the distance between us. That is until I find myself pushed flush against an unwelcomed wall and his arms caging me in as he towers over me.

The smell of his pungent sandalwood cologne overrides my senses. It's intoxicating. Sexy. And Sophisticated. With Artemis being this close to me it draws out feelings of attraction. It confuses me because he scares me, yet I know he won't physically harm me. 

Removing one hand off the wall, he reaches into his back pocket and pulls something out. I hold my breath, squeezing my eyes shut. I was wrong. This cruel bastard will put a bullet between my eyes in a heartbeat without batting an eye.

He roughly takes hold of my left hand and I feel something cool slide over my finger. I open my eyes, downcast my gaze and watch as he slides a gold wedding band over my finger. It rests above the elegant engagement ring he slid onto my finger first. My eyes widen, causing my brows to draw together, and I hold my breath. 

"As of yesterday evening, we are officially married." He states, taking a step back as he watches me intently. "Do you like them?" 

I release the breath I was holding and swallow thickly. "Yes, they are lovely. But I wish you would have gotten me a silver wedding band instead." I say courageously as I meet his gaze. 

"Silver? You are wearing gold jewellery," He hisses defensively, extending his arm, and touching the gold chain around my neck.

"This belonged to my grandmother." I shove his hand away. 

He captures my wrist, holding it in a vice-like grip in front of my face. "I'm going to ask you something, Red and I want the absolute truth." 

I remain silent as I glare at him with my nostrils flaring and my eyes narrowing into thin slits.

"I read your medical report." 

Raising my brows, I don't bother to answer him. 

"Your father, was he abusive?" He snarls with his upper lip curling. 

"My father?" I laugh harshly. "Do I look like someone who has been abused?" 

"You look like someone who is in denial." He says severely and the sound of me laughing ceases. "As I said, I want the truth." He takes one step forward, pressing his body against mine. "You had a series of broken bones within a span of nine years." 

Tears start to burn my eyes. "It wasn't my father."

"One of his soldiers?"

I shake my head, "It was my mother."

He releases my wrist and steps back from me. "Your mother?" He asks with a scowl marring his features. 

"My mother became mentally ill," I whimper, "She use to lash out at me when my father wasn't around, and if she wasn't physically hurting me..." I sigh, wiping the angry tears from my face with the heel of my hand. "She would lock me in the cupboard until my father got home and freed me from the darkness." 

Through my cloudy vision blinded by tears. I quickly catch a glimpse of compassion flaring in his captivating eyes.

"She's the reason why I can not stand dark confined spaces. Her committing suicide was one of the happiest days of my life. It felt like I could breathe freely again without having to look over my shoulder every time I was left alone with her." I hiss venomously as images of my mother's abusive behaviour swarm my waking state., "It's a bittersweet feeling that's rooted itself into the branches of my heart," I continue, raising my chin as I endure to meet his shameless gaze.