lump in my throat, begging my ever-growing erection to calm the fuck down.
“Ornella, there’s a few things I need to discuss with you.”
She didn’t flinch—didn’t really seem all that surprised—as if she knew something was coming. I wanted to keep most of
this hidden away from her, until the day before our wedding. It wasn’t fair of me to keep these things from her, she deserved to
know. I had promised not to lie to her, and even omitting the truth would be a lie.
“I’m listening.”
Her voice hinted at sarcasm, and I rolled my eyes at her. Did she have any idea of how important and dangerous the
information was? Standing back up, I went and poured myself a drink. I didn't need the drink. I wasn't nervous or afraid. It was
simply a way to give myself a moment to collect my thoughts.Drinking it in one gulp, I poured myself another then gave her one.
Leaning against the vanity table across from her, I sighed hating to tell her this story.
“When your father, Sirius, was—for lack of a better word—made a prisoner of war by my parents, I hadn’t been born, so I
only know of the stories passed down to me,” I paused, looking at her to see her reaction. Ornella’s face became unreadable,
as did her mind. She just hummed and took a sip of her drink. Continuing, I said, “When your grandparents invaded our land to
retrieve Sirius, they brought with them a giant beast capable of destroying our entire land and people.”
“What? I’ve never heard that.”
“Why would you? When my parents did eventually give him back—after the beast tore through many villages and lands of
our people—it was locked away.”
Her brows tensed as her mind registered my words. I wondered if she would put two and two together at that point. I hoped
she would.
“Are you telling me, that thing in the portal was this creature you speak of?” she asked, locking her eyes with mine.
“It may have been, but there are many other monsters that lurk behind that door.”
She lifted her glass to her lips and gulped her drink down as the realisation hit. Her parents and grandparents never told her
and quite possibly any of her family about the exchange. Sadly there was more I needed to tell her.
Pouring us both another drink, I could sense the tension rolling off of her as she stood. She opened one of the balcony
doors, allowing the cool fresh air in.
Her purple dress swayed in the gentle breeze. My eyeline caught sight of a shoulder strap sliding down towards her
forearm, exposing her collarbone and neckline. I turned away from her, knowing I would be drawn to move towards her. I had
to keep my eyes off of her bare skin. Attempting to seduce her was not what I had planned this evening. No matter how much I
wanted to.
“What else happened?” she asked, still staring out the door.
