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SERRA
I’d rushed as quickly as I could out of town, weary of those around me. The young men that had blocked my path had paid me no attention. Too intent on their drinks and cards at the local Tavern. They were frequent patrons. I’d seen them come in frequently, their mugs piled up on the table throughout their visit.The village was alive today with the first warmer days of spring. The fountain square filled with stalls for market day, and the commotion from this morning had been handled as the sellers voiced their wares. I wanted no part in its festivities, not at the moment.
The summons to Conwell Manor and the invitation from Lady Conwell were more than enough to set me on edge. Nothing made sense, nothing explained why I had forgotten any of that. No sooner had I reached the cottage and gone inside, a knock at the door stopped me in my tracks. I hesitated behind the door for a second before turning to crack it open. Curious to see who was outside. But my heart dropped once I saw who stood there.
Kaston.
He was waiting on the stoop, hand resting on the frame of the door. His eyes trained to find me as I pulled the wood door open. My brows furrowed as I stared at him. When had he left the Manor? How had I not noticed him behind me before?
Was I that lost in thought I had not seen him?
“What do you want?” I asked, doing my best to block the door and prevent his entry.
It was of no use.
“To talk to you.” he said, easily pushing past me and through the doorway into the main room of my home. The fire in the hearth cracked and spit as he walked around. The copper kettle left abandoned on the counter and the iron poker far outside my reach.
I was unarmed.
He paced around the space, taking everything in as he did so. His polished bootsthunkedon the floorboards, the sound grinding on my bones. His muscled arms behind his back as he glanced at the door to my bedroom before looking down at my cold mug of tea. The space was modest, small and while I had not noticed his size before, now it was perfectly clear. He had gotten larger since the last time I had been with him, and he dominated most of the space. My voice quivered slightly but I held my ground.
“Get out.”
“Serra, do you really think that’s the best way to speak to me right now?”
Kaston’s voice caused me to pause, the underlying threat that was laced between them. I watched him with weary eyes as he picked up my forgotten mug from the counter and set it back down. Turning toward me with a grin on his lips. Kaston never would have dared come inside, let alone be seen here if Nona were still alive. He’d been just as afraid of her as everyone else.
“You need to leave; I have nothing to say to you.”
“Yes, but I have something to say to you.”
“I don’t want to hear it.” I managed to muster up as much venom into my voice as I could. Holding the door open for him, hopefully he would understand that his time here was over. That I did not want him here. “Leave.”
Bad idea.
Unfortunately, I’d positioned myself in the wrong spot. Kaston approached me then, towering over me- forcing me to step back. He certainly had gotten bigger. The door closed shut as my hand let go, the soft snick as the knob clicked into place made me flinch. I was trapped. He advanced again, cornering me. I had nowhere to run. With as much spite as I could force out, even while my body was shaking with fear.
“Get out.”
His hand found my throat, forcing me to look up at him. Squeezing just enough to block my air supply. “I warned you. Do not speak to me like that.”
I couldn’t help but stare at him in terror. The malice in his voice, the look in his eyes. I had never seen this side of him, I had heard the rumors but never experienced them for myself. His hand relaxed again, holding his grip on my throat, allowing precious air into my lungs. A squeak escaped me as he sighed, his expression was one of vexation.
“It bothers me that you were in my home today. I cannot talk my mother out of this. She would not see reason. She has her mind made up thatyouwill be her next debutant.” His hand flexed on my throat, squeezing enough again to block my air supply.
“Now, if I had it my way, and had I known beforehand this could have been prevented. She would never have met with you. How she even knew youexistedand where you lived is beyond me. Why she’s chosen you will be. . . troublesome for me. Unfortunately, for some reason, you slipped from my mind. Seeing you again opened a well of memories I’d forgotten. And those memories are. . .” he paused, his lips twisting into a smile, “delicious.”
His hand remained on my throat, constricting my air flow as he went on. “However, it is vexing. Considering the circumstances- if you say anything, best believe me Serra when I say that I can and will ruin whatever future you have if you get in my way. You will keep your mouth shut about us or I will let every man, woman and child in the world know that you are a whore. Have I made myself clear?”
His eyes roamed my face before settling on my lips. His smile turned cruel, “It’s really too bad you were raised by a witch. You’re too beautiful. How had I forgotten? It’s most unfortunate. Your pretty face will forever be ingrained in my mind. Especially the one you make when you come. Now. . . Had we met and you were of some kind of wealth this probably would have ended differently for us.”
His thumb caressed the column of my neck, the pressure releasing slightly as it allowed me to gulp down some precious air. His eyes flashed, darkening with hidden desire.“But maybe it doesn’t have to.”
I knew that look.
“Now don’t look at me like that. I could have you.”
His other hand brushed the hair from my face, the stray tear that made its way down my cheek. “I would have you know, taken you as my wife. It would have made sense. No one in this shipping port village is as stunning as you are, not really.”
