"What are you talking about?" Isla said, forcing out a dry smile. There was no way he had discovered what she'd just done unless they were cameras in the dining room. Even at that, she was sure she had made sure that there were no cameras around.
"All of this?" He said, flicking his fingers towards the meal on the table.
"It's so unlike you. You rebelled against me last night. So, what's this? Your attempt to poison me?" He added.
"Of course not! I certainly do not wish to become a widow at such a young age," she said and he squinted at her.
"The last time I checked, you do not like being married to me," he deadpanned.
"I changed my mind after I saw the way you protected me last night. Consider this a peace offering..." Isla's desperation bled into her voice.
Dominic continued to watch her with eyes that could probably see right through her soul.
With every second that passed by, her nervousness worsened.
"Please..." She breathed.
Without a word, he drew out a chair and lowered himself into it. Her heart leaped in excitement.
"Why are you standing there? Sit down, will you?" He said and she quickly did as she was told.
While she dug into her portion of food, she tried not to sneak glances at him.
When he reached out to grab the glass of orange juice which she had spiked, her breath caught in her throat.
She continued to sneak glances at him right after he drank the juice. And when his eyes didn't turn white like Archer's had, she was struck with a sudden fear.
If the serum truly had no effect on him, he was more powerful than she'd thought.
"Why are you staring at me like that?" Dominic asked and she immediately lowered her gaze, her palms growing sweaty.
"Look at me," he ordered, his voice thick with authority. She froze in her chair, every muscle in her body growing stiff.
As though she was being compelled, she found herself looking up at him. He leaned back on his chair, a storm brewing in his eyes.
"If you truly poisoned my meal, you shouldn't expect me to collapse. It won't happen. They just don't work on me," he said and she shook her head.
"I didn't poison you," Isla said and he shot to his feet.
In a blink of an eye, he was standing right beside her.
"Are you sure?" He asked and she nodded frantically. She could somehow sense the impending threat to her life.
Grabbing her arm, he pulled her to her feet.
"Then kiss me," he said and her eyes bulged in their sockets.
"What?"
"If you really didn't poison me, you wouldn't be afraid of kissing me," he pointed out and she crinkled her nose at him.
"I can't just..."
His eyes grew cold and every hint of amusement vanished.
"Do it."
Letting out an inhale, she leaned closer to him, her lips meeting his. Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her even closer and deepened the kiss.
She wasn't supposed to enjoy it.
But, somehow, her body was overcome with a throbbing need.
More. She wanted more.
They kissed like they were starving. It was intense like a burning fever that stole every trace of reasoning.
They'd kissed before but this was something different.
Electrifying. Breath-taking.
Suddenly, Isla was burning hot. It was so intense, she could feel the sweat sliding down her spine.
She pulled away from Dominic when she started to grow light-headed. His eyes had turned a startling red rimmed with black.
He almost looked crazed.
When he tried to pull her in for another kiss, she resisted.
"Mine," he growled, his voice guttural.
"No..." Isla gasped and he grabbed her by the throat.
"Stop!" She cried and he tightened his grip on her.
"Dominic STOP!" She cried out and he released her, his eyes reverting to their usual colour.
She stumbled away from him, holding a hand to her sore neck.
He stared at her for a moment, his eyes wide.
"I'm sorry....shit...I didn't mean to..." He said, reaching out to touch her.
"You tried to kill me!" She spat and he shook his head, a confused look on his face.
"I'm so sorry....I don't know what..."
"Save it," she snapped and stormed out of the dining room.
...
A few hours later,
Isla paced back and forth in her room, unable to shake off the memory of what had happened earlier in the dining room. Although Dominic had apologized to her, she was on edge. He could've killed her if he'd held on to her for much longer.
Her phone rang out and she let out a startled cry.
Isla hesitated a little bit before picking up the call.
"Isla?" a masculine voice said.
She recognized the voice right away.
"It's me, Archer," he continued.
"I know," she replied.
"Did you succeed in using the serum?" He asked.
"I don't think the truth serum worked on him," she said and he sucked in a sharp breath.
"That confirms it. He's the fugitive we've been looking for," Archer replied and her heart sank.
At this point, she was starting to regret going to Dominic for help. It was clear now. She wasn't safe around him. Whatever happened earlier might happen again and there was no guarantee that he wouldn't kill her the next time.
A shudder ran through her as she brought a hand to her throat.
"Can we meet up again? There are so many things I want to tell you," Archer stated.
"Today?" She asked.
"Yeah."
"Alright then..."
The door was pushed open and she gasped in surprise, holding her phone to her chest. Dominic was standing by the door, a stoic look on his face.
"Can't you knock?" She demanded, straightening.
Ignoring her question, he observed her for a few seconds.
"You're fully dressed. Good. You're coming with me," he said and she narrowed her eyes at him.
"What?"
"Pack up a few clothes. It's going to be a short trip," he said, turning away from her.
"To where?" She asked and he walked out of the room, shutting the door behind him.
She stared at the door in annoyance.
What the hell was wrong with him?
...
"Where are we going?" She asked Dominic an hour later. They were seated in his car and he was driving along a bridge.
They had been sitting in silence for the past thirty minutes.
"The pack house. It's where the wedding will be taking place," he told her and her eyes widened.
"Already? But--"
"Why? You don't want to finalize your wedding with me? Darling, you have no choice now. Eventually, the public will discover that you're my wife. We'll just have to see it through to the end," he said and she winced.
She wasn't sure if she was ready to be sucked into his world. Judging from the fact that he was Mikael's archenemy, he had to be as dangerous as Mikael, if not more.
"Is your neck okay?" He asked and she nodded quietly.
Lowering her gaze to her phone, she quickly sent a text to Archer, apologizing for not being able to meet up with him.
All of a sudden, the car skid to a halt and she looked up, bewildered.
"What's going--" the words died off at the sight of the number of men obstructing the road. There were several cars behind them as well. It appeared as though they'd been plotting an ambush.
Isla's stomach churned with unease as she glanced behind them to see more cars pulling up.
Dread sank into her, her breathing quickening.
Who sent them?
Was it her father?
Or Fabian?
Had they come to take her back?
Nausea swept through her at the thought of it.
She would rather die than go back to either of them.
But looking at the situation, there was a high chance of things going south.
They were surrounded.
Isla turned to look at Dominic who looked strangely unbothered.
"Isla?" He said, his eyes fixed on the road in front of them.
"Y-yes?" She managed to utter.
"I want you to do me a favour. Stay in the car, do you understand?" He stated and she gulped.
"There are too many of them," she breathed and he turned to look at her.
"Stay in the car," Dominic deadpanned.
Then he removed his seatbelt and got out of the car.
Isla watched with wide eyes as he moved to stand in front of the car.
The breeze whipped against his unbound hair as he rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt, exposing his strong-looking veiny arms.
His aura was different this time. It was as overwhelming as a hurricane. Even while Isla was seated in the car, she could feel his hair-raising presence.
The clouds overhead had started to darken, accompanied by a rumble in the sky.
The men didn't attack but they all appeared hostile. It was as though they were waiting for the right time to attack.
"Come out here already. I know you're here," Dominic said and Isla frowned, wondering who he was talking to.
Slowly, a car door was pushed open and someone stepped out. Isla could recognize that face anywhere. It was the devil himself, Mikael.