Kaden's gaze lingered on me for a few more seconds before he finally spoke in a low murmur, "Good girl."
His words didn't feel like praise; they felt like control. A flush crawled up my neck, my stomach knotting with dread. He spoke to me as if I were a dog performing tricks. Something about Kaden made me feel exposed, small, weak. A familiar feeling I had experienced when I realized the role I played in the Rivera mansion.
And yet, beneath the humiliation, a flicker of warmth filled my chest. Why did a little part of me like it, like I'd finally done something right? While Malcolm couldn't care less about my existence, and for some reason that hurt more.
I barely knew them. What was wrong with me? I wanted to smack myself on the head, shake myself out of it. Instead of plotting my escape, I'm here debating how they make me feel.
Fool.
I glared at the ground, my fists clenching.
"Eyes up here. Don't make me say it again," Kaden's voice cut through like a whip. My face went pale. Swallowing hard, I stilled. My gaze slid hesitantly back to him.
Then his gaze snapped to the priest. The priest paled, throat bobbing out of fear. His hands trembled where they held the scripture, fingers twitching as he turned the pages.
He tells me to look at him, then looks away.
What else am I supposed to do? Not talk when he tells me to talk? Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I glared at him.
Idiot.
"Do you, Kaden Santos, take Isabella Rivera as your lawfully wedded wife?" the priest said, voice cracking, eyes glued to the book, trying his best not to lift his gaze even an inch.
I didn't blame him. Kaden was terrifying—one minute he could be staring at you, the next his hands around your throat.
A complete lunatic.
Escaping from him would be the hardest thing, but I had to try. I could barely step foot out of the Rivera mansion.
But I was out in the open.
Just an opportunity and I'd run. Run so far no one would find me.
A new life away from everything. I just need a chance, then I'd be gone.
"I do," he said, gaze moving to my clenched fists. One side of his mouth lifts into a smirk. His head tilted slightly as if he was amused.
At least one of us found this funny.
Trying not to glare at him, I clenched my jaw.
"And do you, Isabella Rivera, take Kaden Santos to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
This time there was no hesitation because I knew with Kaden I had to be careful.
"I do," I muttered. Cheers filled the halls, echoing with claps, whistles, mutters.
I hope they find out and kill everyone. My eyebrows drew together. Yeah, I'd die too, but they would as well.
"Brother" Malcolm muttered. My gaze moved to him. I expected him to be looking at Kaden. Then my gaze moved to what he was looking at. My breath hitched.
A man so large he took up all the space.
How the hell hadn't I noticed him?
He was so large.
His wide, broad shoulders strained his suit. Blue veins snaked over his neck. My gaze slid to his square jaw, tracing a faint line that ran along his hollow cheeks. My eyes widened. It felt like everything slowed down for a moment.
It was like my brain couldn't process what I was seeing.
A jagged scar split the other side of his face—a scar that looked like it had been split wide once.
A chill ran down my back. Who did this to him?
"I won't say more than what's needed," he grunted, barely looking at Malcolm.
His green eyes so green they reminded me of the trees behind the servants' quarter. They may have surrounded the quarters, making me feel trapped,
but at the same time looking at them, smelling them.
I could almost remember the earthy smell.
They had been the only thing of comfort.
The priest, as if waiting for his approval to continue, looked at him.
He let people look him in the eye.
I furrowed my eyebrows. He nodded his head. "Do you, Ace Santos, take Isabella Rivera as your lawfully wedded wife?"
"I do." He said, his voice low but firm. He didn't look at me at first, but then his green eyes slowly shifted to me, taking me in.
I stood there. His eyes swept upwards with little energy from my white heels, to my floral skirt that flowed from my waist. His gaze slid to my sweetheart neckline, then to my face, his expression unreadable, lips pressed into a flat line. He looked away.
Like the sight of me bored him.
Well, whatever. It was not like I wanted him to find me attractive.
But then why did it sting a but.
"Do you, Isabella Rivera, take Ace Santos as your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I do," I murmured, glancing away from him.
"I now pronounce you husbands and wife. You may kiss the bride," the priest said, his gaze darting to me, his eyes softening before looking away.
But it was like my mind went blank. All I could hear were those words, those words that had now sealed my fate. There was no going back.
Everyone's eyes in the hall were fixed on me. I couldn't possibly kiss them.
Definitely not in front of everyone.
A wave of panic hit me, my breath hitching. My gaze snapped to the entrance. Maybe I could make a run for it.
I wouldn't make it far. By the time I was a foot away from them, they would catch me—I just knew it—and who knew what they would do to me after. I clenched my hand so tightly my nails dug into my palm, the sharp pain distracting me from the pounding of my chest.
Malcolm, who had just been standing there observing, took a step towards me. My breath caught in my throat.
No. No. No.
I scrambled back, a choked sound escaping me, but he kept moving, taking another step, making me take another step back. But then I collided with something that felt like a hard wall. Tilting my head upwards, my gaze met Kaden's brown eyes. He was standing behind me, as if blocking me so I don't move further.
How did he get behind me?
Kaden's large, warm hand settled on my waist, his fingers digging just enough to hold me in place. I felt trapped, like I couldn't breathe. I could feel the warmth of his breath against my ear, his lips so dangerously close. His voice, a low purr, cut through the noise in my head: "Don't run, little dove."
I was trapped between Malcolm advancing towards me and Kaden's presence behind me, the pressure of his fingers on my waist causing chills down my back.
I was utterly trapped.
My eyes shifted from side to side, until my gaze stopped on Ace who looked as if he could be anywhere but here.
His gaze fixed on the crowd as if he was looking at something or someone. As if sensing my stare, his head turned, our eyes met. This time I held his gaze, silently pleading for help.
He held my gaze, slowly blinking. Then his gaze drifted to Malcolm, then to Kaden, his expression neutral as if nothing was happening.
As if I wasn't begging him to help.
Malcolm closed the distance with another step. My gaze snapped back to him. He loomed over me, making me feel small.
He didn't speak, just leaned towards me. I froze, my heart beating against my chest. All I heard was ringing in my ears. My eyes were wide as I watched his head descend towards mine. His large hand rose. My gaze snapped to it. Silver rings adorned his fingers. Tattoos marking his knuckles.
His fingers approached my face. His thumb and forefinger caught my chin, the rings cold against my skin. Tilting my neck up, my panic gaze met his. His gray eyes were blank, devoid of emotion.
The emptiness in his eyes was what scared me even more.
His gaze slid to my lips. His lips, set in a flat line, moved towards mine. His cologne, a woody, pine scent, filled my nose.
This was my first kiss.
Not with anyone I would have chosen, loved.
But with this man, a stranger.
A man who saw me as nothing. My chest clenched. I didn't want my first kiss to be like this. I didn't want it to be forced, taken away from me.
His lips were inches from mine, his warm breath touching my cheek. I took a sharp inhale. Then I felt it, the soft press of his lips on mine. I stiffened, my lips pressed tightly together, my muscles locking up.
He didn't pull back. His lips remained on mine for a second. A low grumble vibrated against my lips. "Part them."
Part them...
My brows pulled together. What did he mean?
He caught my bottom lip between his teeth and bit it. I let out a startled gasp. My lips parting, his lips moved against mine. My mouth moved without rhythm, unsure of what to do. His tongue swept into my mouth, his tongue, stroking my tongue, guiding my movements. My eyes closed briefly. A shiver ran through my spine, sending a flutter through my stomach.
Then he pulled away. The cheers and whistles snapping me out of my daze. Then it hit me like a bucket of cold water.
Heat rising to my cheeks. He straightened to his full height, his hand dropping from my chin. I stared up at him, taking in a shaky breath, my lips swollen.
"If you look me in the eye again," he said, his voice dropping dangerously low, his gaze intense as he tilted his head slowly, as if he was studying prey. My eyes dropped immediately, my shoulders shrinking. "it won't end well for you," he continued.
Behind me, Kaden's low murmur cut through the tension. "Don't scare my little dove too much, brother." His fingers traced slow lines along my waist, causing my skin to tingle, my body leaning slightly towards his touch.
I had to be touch-deprived.
Why else would a little part of me... enjoy it?
Malcolm's gaze darted from me to Kaden sharply. Before he could say something, the heavy wooden doors crashed open with a violent crack, echoing in the hall. Every head turned to the entrance. Kaden's grip slightly tightened on my waist. In a blink of an eye, he pulled me backwards behind him, standing in front of me like a shield, his eyes locked on the target.
Malcolm, who was still inches from me, stilled. His head snapped towards the entrance, eyes narrowing. His steps forward towards the entrance were measured, his face blank.
No fear. No questions.
I looked at him behind Kaden as he moved to the entrance. His movements were measured. Even Ace straightened slightly. His scarred face turned towards the commotion, his green eyes sharpening.
My gaze snapped to the entrance, seeing the guards pointing their guns towards it. Then I saw who they were pointing their weapons at.
The first thing I saw were blue eyes.
Familiar blue eyes.
My breath caught in my throat, every muscle in my body tensing.
Isabella...