by Kira Freitas
- Are we clear?
- Yes, ma'am! - she answered in a low, countered voice.
- Oh, great! - he said, guiding me to where she had left things. - Now, if you'll excuse me, I'd rather clean up myself. Tell your master I'm not hungry and I'll be here the rest of the day.
- But, uh...
- Am I clear or do you need me to repeat it?
Rose shot me with his gaze and then turned to get out.
- No, ma'am! - she whispered before slamming the door hard.
Taking a deep breath, I aimed my reflection in the mirror. My eyes were red and swollen, as were my lips that were more crimson than usual. The hair was disheveled and there was a lot of sadness in my gaze. I did not know when I would be able to get rid of that feeling and I preferred not to think too much at that moment. Going to the trunk that had been left in my room, two nights before, I picked up a light blue dress and stretched it over the bed. Returning to the front of the mirror, I held my hair high on my head and began to untie the bodice on the sweater. I closed my eyes when the first shoulder scar became visible. I slipped the fabric slowly until I caught it around my waist. As usual, I covered my breasts with my arms and turned my back to the mirror. I opened my eyes to look over my shoulder in the hope that everything was just a dream and that those horrendous scars were not there, but once again I saw them covering the entire extension to my waist. Tears came in my eyes as I remembered the occasion when I won them. There wouldn't be enough magic to remove those marks. Even the ancient witches couldn't make it go away.
- I ordered you to come down! - Alistair said furiously as he entered the room without knocking. - When I command something, I demand that it be fulfilled. How dare you disobey me?
I stopped staring at Alistair with wide eyes. It wasn't because of his words or the tone of his voice, but because my back was naked. He frowned and walked slowly to where I was.
- Turn around! - he ordered it.
I had already pissed him off too much, there was no reason for him to get angry any more. Alistair would see those marks sooner or later. Taking a deep breath, I turned my back on him and lowered my gaze.
- Who did this to you? - he whispered while still looking at my back. - And for what reason?
I had no intention of telling the story of what caused it, but I could not omit the name of my executioner.
- Ravenna! - I whispered with my eyes closed. - That's proof of how cruel my mother can be when countered. Especially when things don't turn out the way she wants them to.
Alistair stood behind me, contemplating the scars. There was a mixture of relief and anger in his eyes. He passed his fingers through each of the scars, which were numerous, slowly and smoothly. I felt a chill go through my skin every time he touched it. I held my breath when I felt my body burn like the other night. My heart was racing as if I had run for miles on and on.
- Ravenna has no limits. - he whispered.
- None! - I whispered back biting my lower lip.
- What have you done to deserve such punishment? - he suddenly asked. - Was it because of him?
I lifted my eyes and looked at him through the mirror. Alistair had his eyes closed, but I could feel the tension through his hands. I wanted to tell him everything, because I was being misjudged, but instead I heard myself answer.
- In a way, yes, it was because of him.
I wasn't supposed to go out like that, like I was mocking Alistair or ironizing his feelings. I meant to be diplomatic in my answers, but I was sarcastic instead. Alistair growled before I turned to face him and grabbed my shoulders.
- I'll make you forget it belonged to another man. - he grunted. - And when you kiss me, I want you to know it's my mouth and not his. I'll make him remember at dawn that it belongs to me and not him.
I didn't have time to react, because Alistair kissed me furiously holding my arms so I wouldn't run away. I panicked because I was half-naked in the arms of a man I barely knew. I was afraid of what he might do to me, for Alistair was in a great fury. Little by little his kiss became urgent and I caught myself giving back. He finished tearing off his sweater and holding me in his arms walked with me to the bed, softly depositing me. He then interrupted the kiss and contemplated my body with hungry eyes. I closed my eyes to take a deep breath. I could still feel his lips on mine.
- Open your eyes! - he ordered it with a soft voice whispering in my ear. I immediately did what he said.
Alistair pulled the white shirt he wore off his head. He seemed to be even bigger now that he was naked in the chest. I was appalled and contemplated the vastness of perfect skin that he possessed. Contrary to what I imagined, there weren't many scars, only one thin one crossed his chest from the right rib to almost the left. She was hidden by a thin layer of dark hair that descended through her abdomen. My mouth salivated in a way I didn't know I could. Between my legs a sore spot started throbbing and I felt an uncomfortable pressure.
Alistair didn't wear the kilt, so he just stood there to open his pants. I was frightened by the size of your limb, which was long and thick. The heat wave intensified as he leaned over me and kissed me with fury. My hands immediately went into his arms and although I feared what he was about to do, I couldn't stop him. My body didn't want him to stop and I decided to let myself be carried away by that dirty feeling. He introduced a finger inside me while kissing me and massaged my clitoris with the tip of his thumb. That torture lasted for a few moments, until he pulled my legs around him and penetrated me all at once with force. I let out a scream when the acute pain invaded my interior and grabbed his arms sticking his nails hard into his skin. He grunted biting his lower lip, while tears flowed through my eyes. I thought I would never feel that pain again, but I was wrong. Alistair looked at me confusingly frowning.
- Shiii! - he whispered softly kissing my cheek.
Alistair took a deep breath before kissing me softly all along the line of my jaw. Reaching a sensitive spot behind my ear, he started to tease me. I pant when I started to feel that palpitate again between my legs. Feeling that I was relaxing, Alistair then began to kiss me softly, at the same time, as she moved. His movements were slow and smooth as if he was afraid of hurting me. He gasped when I grabbed his hair at the nape of his neck and squeezed it tightly with one hand. I felt his skin creep and he began to accelerate his movements by storing deeper and deeper. The strength he put in was measured. Pulling my legs upwards he penetrated me even deeper with the change of position. I moaned against his mouth and felt his lips contract in a smile. I immediately opened my eyes to contemplate the pair of blue eyes flooded with desire. I was panting and as he accelerated, I contorted. I had a feeling it would explode at any moment. I begged for more and more.
- Alistair! Please don't stop! - I asked with suffering.
I had to get rid of that feeling that was growing inside my guts. Alistair growled by putting one hand between us and started rubbing my clitoris while stocking more and more. I choked by surprise and grabbed the sheet hard. Instead of moaning, I started screaming for an immense pleasure that was about to explode. He captured my mouth and that was enough to suffocate my screams. I grabbed onto his shoulders bowing the body and throwing my head back while I felt myself plunging into a vastness. Then something exploded inside me. That feeling lasted for a few minutes longer as Alistair stocked mercilessly, until I felt something liquid burn inside me and then he collapsed on my body with a wild roar. So that was pleasure?
We remain in that same position for a few moments. Alistair caressed my hair softly, while I kept my arms steady around his neck. Our breaths were panting and our hearts were beating at the same rate. Suddenly, the anger I felt at him just disappeared. My body felt cherished and a feeling of peace with a mixture of security took hold of me. Peace was something I hadn't experienced in years and I realized that I could breathe with relief for the first time in my life. Too bad it didn't last so long.
With a growling and abruptly, Alistair stood up from inside me. He
stared at me for a moment and closed his pants. I realized his gaze was colder than the hills of Inverness. I felt ashamed for a moment and then I pulled the skin quilt to cover my body.
- Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. I'm your official husband now. - he said coolly. - I'll just lie in this bed just to take it. Be prepared whenever I feel like it.
An emptiness took hold of me, but soon anger filled it up and I snorted.
- I thought your lover was enough and you didn't need me. - I fired with irony.
Alistair frowned at me for a few moments in a confusing way. Soon his gaze gave way to a cold, sarcastic laughter...
- If you're referring to Rose, I'm insatiable and I guarantee I can handle both. I can even take them at the same time, which wouldn't be a bad idea. - he returned it ironically. - I'm sure she wouldn't mind.
- You fucking, disgusting bastard! - I growled. - Why do you do that if you hate me?
- You only serve me to generate an heir, that's all. - he fired without mercy. - Don't expect too much from me because I intend to be brief.
I looked at him incredulously. Alistair was being more cruel than my mother. At least she gave me a whipping and I felt the pain only once.
- As I predicted, you have no heart! - I took a deep breath containing the tears. - What if I decide to run away?
Alistair had a laugh.
- I've seen the way you ride, and I doubt you'll go very far. - he said sarcastically and took my chin. - I'd find her as easy as a fox.
Dropping my chin, he took a dagger that was stuck in his boots and cut off the palm of his hand. Approaching the bed he let the blood drip in a strategic place and stain the sheet.
- This will help the washers to have something to say and make my mother happy to support my choice.
Alistair went to the door and closed it tightly when he passed it. I shrunk in bed and the feeling of being dirty took over my body. I knew that feeling, I'd felt it several times before. I started crying as usual. This time I had not been hit in the body, but in my soul. That pain was even more unbearable than any pain I had ever felt before.
Chapter 09
Alistair
I walked down the hall towards the library. I was furious and, at the same time, ashamed of the way I treated Aideen. I had never been rude to a woman before, but the way she confessed that she had been beaten by another man, made me experience a jealousy that I did not know I had. No respectful man married a woman who had already been taken by another, but I didn't care about these idiotic customs. What I didn't like was to be fooled, like Ravenna and Aideen did or tried to do.
- I'm an idiot! - I whispered.
I was still trying to decipher what Ravenna's plan was, in fact, by accepting that Aideen would marry me. I didn't know if it was for money, which was very likely, or if it was something else. The bastard played her part well by pretending to be offensive when I chose Aideen. Loch's attitude didn't surprise me at all, but Annabel's attitude surprised me. I was still bewildered by the fact that she was able to find the passages. Even I didn't know where they all were. I didn't even know there was one in my room. How did she find out?
Aideen seemed to fear much more for his return than for his life. It made me think about those marks on his back and it made me very intrigued. There were still the wrist bandages. It reminded me of that afternoon in the woods, when she threatened to kill herself if I touched her. I was fully aware that Ravenna was too rigid to lock her daughters in the house, away from other people's eyes as she had done for a long time. Whipping his daughter seemed too cruel. Even if it was like punishment for her lying with another man other than her husband...
As far as I could tell, Aideen had been punished at least twice and the fact was recent, since some brands were more visible than others. Maybe she met with him again and was discovered. What if she tried to escape? I had to find out who this man was and make him understand that Aideen was mine.
Taking a deep breath, I decided not to go to the library as I had planned to clear my head. I still had a tremendous hangover because of the drunkenness of yesterday and the day before. On the night of the wedding, I had drunk the bottle of wine and another bottle of whiskey that I found in the library. I got so drunk, I ended up passing out on the floor. Bruce was the one who found me and took me to my room. Thinking about it, I decided to go back to the breakfast table, where my parents were waiting for me. They were leaving for a long period of rest in Dunlock. I wouldn't see them for a long time. I'd give any excuse for Aideen's absence that was very convincing. When I came in I saw Alec and Bruce sharing breakfast with them. We talked about Alec going to the front.
- So you're leaving this morning? - I asked by sipping a sip of tea.
- Yes. Alec nodded. - I'll take that path through the meadow that passes between the villages. That way, I'll get there faster.
Smile shaking your head.
- I couldn't remember this way. - he said. - What's the rush?
- I want to get to know this Breanna you've been talking about so much and get acquainted with the men. - he justified it. - The sooner I leave, the sooner I'll learn.
- You're right! - I took a break. - Do you mind going without Bruce? I'll need it for an urgent matter of interest to me.
Bruce frowned.
- What subject?
- I'll explain later, but I can tell you that I'll need your skills to move in the shadows.
Bruce stared at Alec.
- Can you go on without a nanny?
Alec frowned for a moment and I was surprised by his look. He laughed then, leaving me relieved.
- Certainly, my cousin! - Alec returned it. - Take all the hookers you need.
We laughed for a long time. I didn't want Alec on the front alone, but I trusted Bree and Keilan to help him.
After breakfast, I asked Elaine to meet me at the library. My parents had already left, as had Alec. I didn't know how Aideen found out about Rose being my lover, but I could imagine. I didn't mean to be so cruel to Aideen, but I saw an opportunity and I grabbed it. I ended up regretting it as soon as I left the room. I've never acted so coldly towards anyone as I did towards her. This wounded pride was leading me to be a person I didn't used to be, but I hated being fooled and would make her pay. But I couldn't stop myself from caring about her for a while. I didn't want Rose meddling in my affairs and she would be another one that I would put in her rightful place.
- Did you send for me? - Elaine asked as soon as she entered the library.
- Yes. - I answered smiling as I lifted my eyes from the papers I was reading. - I need you to meet Aideen on whatever she needs. You'll be her personal chambermaid.
- Me? - She shot with the surprise voice. - Princess's maid? I thought Rose had that function.
- Don't worry about Rose. I'm assigning you to this function. - I answered. - Do you believe you can accomplish this task?
- Yes, sir! I think I can find time to do the other tasks as well.
- You don't understand, do you? - I asked with a funny look. - You'll just be Aideen's chambermaid.
- But the garden and the kitchen? Who will help with these tasks?
- Don't worry about it, Elaine. I have enough staff to take care of the kitchen. As for the garden, you can reconcile the care if it is not going to hinder your work. - Elaine opened a wide smile. - I know how you like that garden.
- Thank you, Your Highness! - she said with joy. - I won't let you down. I promise! I promise!
- I know that. - she mentioned leaving, but I called her again. - One more thing, Elaine.
- Yeah, right?
- Tell your sister I want to see her now.
- Yes, sir! Yes, sir!
She left the room with a worried face. Elaine was the cook's youngest daughter, Wally, and Rose's sister. She was a pretty girl with long black hair and eyes of the same color. She was shy, but very cheerful. I'd like to work and help Mom. In spite of his young age, he was only fifteen years old and very dedicated to everything
he did. He recently asked to take care of the garden while the gardener was recovering from the flu. My mother had no talent for gardening, so she let someone else take care of the three spaces around the castle. I had relieved her of her duties in the kitchen, but she still made a point of doing both.
I took a deep breath when I heard the knock on the door. From the sound, I knew it was Rose, because she was the only one who knocked on the door like that.
- You wanted to see me? - she said with her mischievous smile and came up to me. - Ofrangote is not realizing?
She came approaching with her sensual rolling and spread her hands on the table. Rose stared at me and kept talking.
- I'm glad you realized that I'm the only one who can satisfy this beautiful body and dangerous mind. - she smiled. - Why didn't you come to meet us? Wait all night.
- I was busy!
- What's going on? Is she so bad that it took him longer than necessary to satisfy you?
I let out a laugh and got up. Rose kept staring at me with her smile full of charm and seduction. My smile died when I approached her and grabbed her throat. Pulling Rose over the table, I threw her sitting on the chair.
- If you ever come near Aideen again, I'll kill you! - he said between his teeth. - Do you understand?
- What are you doing? What are you doing? - she said out of breath. - You're hurting me, Alistair! Let go of me!
- I'll hurt you even more if you dare to speak to her one more time, understand?
- I, uh...
- Do you understand?
He said slowly between his teeth as he squeezed Rose's neck tighter. She rolled her eyes out scared. I wasn't used to being violent, but I was filled with hatred for what Aideen revealed to me.
- Got it! - she said low on account of the squeeze. - Now let me go!
I released Rose, who fell to the ground coughing. Putting her hand down her throat, she lifted her eyes at me.
- So the chicken's already gone to complain? - she laughed. - No wonder. Franzina the way she is, I doubt she can defend herself.