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Cassie
I’m in shock as I’m pulled past a furious Victor and led from the balcony as if I’m about to face the firing squad. I may as well be because I know what’s going on here and my life may as well be over already. Maxim Augustus is the man behind the mask and the fact mine is now lying at the bottom of the valley tells me I’m to be his queen.
I can’t even cry because my mind is struggling to keep up with events that are so damning for my future, I can’t even mourn it yet.
Then there’s the man himself. A man I tried not to see whenever I came to the palace. An ominous presence that lurked in the shadows, watching, waiting and devising his plan to ruin my life.
I’ve always been a little afraid of Victor’s brother, mainly because of the stories he told me of an upbringing that made me love my own parents more. Victor suffered terribly being the second in line to the throne, mentally and often physically.
So many times, I visited and he would try to hide a fresh bruise, or deep cut. He wore the haunted look in his eyes well, and I knew it all came down to one man. Maxim. Future king and one hundred percent bastard.
Now he has anchored me to his side and there is no escaping. The guards that settled behind us would make sure of that and as we walk briskly into the room, I feel the silence reach out and mock me with derision.
So much for the great escape, Cassie. You’re a fool for ever thinking you had a choice.
I see the horror on the faces of my fellow graduates. They look disbelieving, envious even and stare at me with a hostility I certainly don’t deserve. The men’s eyes follow me behind their masks and I expect they are full of admiration for the man who has ditched protocol and taken what he wants before they even got a look in.
Picturing my mother’s face churns my soul because if anyone will be happy, it’s her. She got what she wanted, the biggest prize in Andromeda and I know there will be no bringing her down from the massive high she is probably on right now.
The music starts and a strong arm slides around my waist and pulls me close to a body that may as well be a concrete wall and he dips his head and whispers roughly, “You know what you have to do. Accept the situation and we will talk as soon as the formalities are over.”
He starts to move and I go along with this farce because I have no choice. Maybe I can play along while I formulate an escape plan. Victor would help. If I’m sure of anything, it’s that. Escape Andromeda and escape him because if this is my life, I may as well end it now.
Somehow, I manage to find my friends in the crowd and the horror in their eyes matches my own. If anything, it feels odd being the only unmasked person in the room. I may as well be naked because I’m the only person here who has nothing to hide behind. My fate is clear and the distaste on my face must tell everyone how I feel about that because I will never smile again if this is what’s planned for me. Marriage to a king. A dictator. A bastard.
I wish I could blank out his chiseled features that are so beautiful it’s as if he’s carved in marble for the world to admire. Cold, unfeeling and a granite set to his jaw that looks as if it never raises a smile. Dark turbulent eyes that swirl with power and shadowy promises and sleek black hair that casts a shadow across his face. A rare beauty that many are envious of. A strong, hard body that feels like granite under my touch. A warrior king, a fighter, a man that takes no shit and scares the hell out of me. My future. My pain and my prison.
As we swirl around the room making sure that every corner of it has the chance to see their king claim his queen, I feel giddy with it all. Mentally and physically, because my feet haven’t touched the ground since he claimed my lips with his. Just thinking of that kiss makes me shiver inside because more than anything, I detest the fact I loved every minute of it. There was such power in that kiss. So much passion and for someone who has had little of that in her life, it was a mind blowing experience. I almost want to see my reflection right now because I am so confused by my reaction. I wanted more. To feel his tongue twist in mine, owning me, claiming me and devouring me. It wasn’t tender, it was rough, brutal and told me I have no say in the matter. Certainly not loves true kiss, definitely not that.
By the time the dance ends, I am a mass of conflicted emotions and feel thankful that this torture has ended. He will call for my chaperones and deliver me back to the safety of my family because I know what happens next. We part company and the deal is struck. Both households agree the settlement; the date of the wedding and the agenda for chaining me to a lifetime of servitude—to him.
To my surprise, once again he breaks protocol and as he pulls me from the room, the ever-present guards surround us.
His grip on my hand is crushing, bruising and tells me I’m fucked because it appears he has another plan in mind and it doesn’t involve my parents.
He pulls me up a sweeping staircase and my heart thumps madly as I sense I’m not going to like what happens next, because there’s an aura of extreme danger surrounding us right now and I am blind of ways to escape it.
We reach a huge oak door peppered with black metal studs and the soldier on guard opens it with a flourish and a salute and Maxim pulls me inside and it slams behind us like a prison gate. It may as well be because my heart thumps mercilessly inside me as he turns the huge iron key and then says in a dark voice.
“You’re mine now.”
