Chapter Marian #2
“Don’t stop.” I rushed forward, for the first time not feeling the pain as I took in panicked pale blue eyes. “Kill him, Drayton. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”
Fear. It dripped from my words. From my very soul as I clutched to Drayton’s shoulders, almost seeming to hold him down so he’d apply more force.
Joel’s eyes were rolling, and footsteps had me turning, but I wouldn’t let go of Drayton.
Joel was tearing into Drayton’s hands. Blood was appearing in streaks as Drayton squeezed to his throat tighter.
“Don’t stop. Don’t—”
“What the hell is going on?”
Elec rushed forward, stopping and fisting his hands as he went to grab Drayton. I could tell he wanted to, but he didn’t. He just stood there as Joel’s eyes bulged and his mouth stayed locked half open, searching for air. Trying to fight to find it. Moments drug out… and he didn’t.
“Fucking shit. Dammit, Drayton.”
“Don’t stop,” I kept repeating. “Don’t. Don’t.”
A loud growl tore from Drayton. Joel was dead. I knew that as I looked at slightly opened hollow eyes. Still, he held around Joel’s neck… and still I held on to Drayton.
“Fuck.” The word was elongated as Elec pushed his fingers into his hair. “This isn’t going to be good. What the hell happened?”
Drayton let go, standing and wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He pulled me in his arms, hugging to me tightly.
“He hurt Marian.”
“Right now?”
“He was looking at Marian. Smirking and… goading her.” Each word was more forceful than the last. “I fucking…can’t. I want them to pay. They took this from me. They—”
Drayton stopped and his eyes jerked down to mine. I didn’t misunderstand what he meant. They took his revenge, and in that, he couldn’t hurt me. Not how he really wanted. Regret mixed with anger and his arms only tightened through the obvious confliction.
“Marian.”
“Don’t.” I pushed against him hard, breaking his hold. “Let’s get these vows over with so we can get to the consummation part. I’m just dying to be humiliated and used even more. But you’ll probably like that. Just think about how much it’s going to hurt me. That’ll make you feel better.”
“Marian.”
I didn’t wait. I walked by both of them, holding up the dress as I pushed past the pain that was coming back with a vengeance.
Bram was at the end of the hall with The Unavowed, and they were slowly headed our way.
Their conversation paused as they spotted me, but I knew my expression wasn’t hiding what I’d just undergone.
“Marian… are you okay?”
Bram was walking faster, and Elec’s voice rang out behind me.
“Just a little murder. Nothing like starting a wedding off right.”
“Murder?”
The Unavowed kept going as I held my hand up for Bram to stop.
“The guard was one of the men who—I froze when I saw him. I locked up, and the guard, he wasn’t hiding his guilt. Quite the opposite. He’s dead.”
“Shit. Shit.”
Bram pulled me at a fast pace back to the room. The Unavowed looked down to Joel but stayed silent.
“I want two more.”
Drayton’s voice was full of authority. An anger surpassing rage. The Unavowed looked up, narrowing his lids.
“You kill one of my guards without my permission and you have the nerve to ask for two more?”
“You want to be bonded. That’s what we are now through our heirs. We’re family. I don’t know her, but Marian loves Penny, and I’ve always loved Marian. If they would have hurt your chosen, as family, I’d give them to you on a silver fucking platter.”
“Is that what family does?”
Drayton’s eyes softened the smallest amount as he studied The Unavowed’s.
“It should. Mine turned their backs on me when they stripped away my title, but I am not them, and I have it back now. Bet your ass I plan to make them pay for it. To me, family is forever. It’s undying.
Loyalty. It’s blood. Secrets. Death. I’d die for what’s mine.
Marian is mine. No one hurts what’s mine.
If she could remember them all, I’d be asking for a hell of a lot more than three. ”
I held my hand to my mouth, trying to keep in the sobs that wouldn’t stop coming. The men kept their eyes locked for what felt like ever.
“You were upset—”
“That doesn’t even begin to describe it. I’m fucking livid. You have no idea what it’s taking for me to stay this calm.”
The Unavowed’s gaze went to Bram and then to Elec. “I could have him killed right now for what he’s done. Have I not been nice? I’ve been so nice.”
“No! Don’t hurt him! Please!”
Bram grabbed me, holding me tightly as his other hand went up.
“Normally, you’d be able to, but he doesn’t know the rules.
He’s only just joined The Gardens. Drayton hasn’t even attended an auction.
What he’s witnessed with his chosen makes this fall under special circumstances.
Killing him is off the table. Otherwise, you lose their heir anyway.
Do you really want to do that over a guard? ”
“Over three… that’s his request. More, if she could remember.”
“They’re guards,” Bram growled out. “They’re replaceable.
His alliance and his heir with Marian are not.
But you know that. Just say what you’re getting at.
You have something else in mind. Say it so we can get this wedding over with before my wife sends in people to retrieve me.
You really don’t want that. You’ll have a hell of a lot more dead guards if you keep stalling. ”
“Fine. I mean …” The Unavowed looked back to Drayton. “We’re family, anyway. You shouldn’t even care. You should be asking for it. Pride, loyalty, and all.”
“Asking for what? I don’t have time for riddles. If you want me to prove myself to rip those men apart, I will, gladly. Just tell me what you want.”
The Unavowed’s lips tugged back at the side.
“For starters… you must wear my mark where it matters most. Both of you. You’re tying your marriage into my line with your heir.
You will be branded on your wedding finger with my sigil.
Let it be a reminder at the foundation of who you are, and where your loyalty lies.
Bonded. Family. I know nothing about what that means.
But perhaps after what I see you suffer for love tonight, you can begin to teach me. ”