Chapter 23 Marcellious #3
The beast reared, then lunged forward, hooves pounding against the dirt as we raced through the night.
The cold wind lashed at my face, but I barely noticed.
I had one goal—
Malik’s villa.
I had to explain everything to Emily.
I had to beg her forgiveness.
If I had to drop to my knees, I would.
I had no intentions beyond reconciliation.
But the real question—the one gnawing at my gut—was where could we go to escape Balthazar’s wrath?
Because no matter how far we ran, he would never stop hunting us.
When I reached Malik’s door, I was breathless, sweating, exhausted, and urgently coiled.
I pounded against the heavy wood, my knuckles aching from the force.
Seconds stretched into an agonizing eternity—
Then, the door creaked open, revealing a stern-faced maid.
I moved to push past her, but she blocked my way, standing firm as iron.
“Good sir,” she said coolly. “Where do you think you’re going?”
I gritted my teeth.
“I need to see Emily,” I ground out. “It’s urgent.”
I tried to sidestep her, but she shifted swiftly, refusing to let me pass.
“I’m sorry, but it’s late, and Lady Emily is asleep. You can return in the morning if you like.”
She moved to close the door, but I slammed my boot against it, keeping it open.
“Where’s Malik, then?” My voice shook with frustration. “I must speak with him.”
The maid’s expression remained unreadable.
“He’s not here.”
Liar.
I narrowed my eyes.
“You’re lying,” I growled. “Where is he?”
The maid’s expression blanched, a brief flash of shock before her jaw clenched like iron.
“I’m sorry, sir,” she said, voice like steel, “but you’ll have to leave. You can return in the morning.”
Before I could protest, she pressed both palms against the door and—
Shoved.
My boot slipped, my pride crumpling alongside it—
And then, the door slammed shut.
The impact echoed, rattling my already frayed nerves.
I stood there, stunned, my hands clenching into fists at my sides.
No. No, this isn’t happening.
I raked a hand through my hair, my fingers tugging hard at the strands.
I had to find Emily.
I had to get inside.
I backed away from the entrance, scanning the house, my eyes darting to the second floor.
A glow of golden light seeped from one of the upstairs windows.
Then—
A tall shadow moved across the pane, pacing.
Malik.
He held a small child in his arms, his head turning slightly as if he sensed something.
I ducked fast, pressing into the deep shadows of a nearby tree.
So that was not Emily’s bedroom.
Where the hell was she sleeping?
My gaze roved the house, searching—
And then I spotted them.
Two balconies.
Bingo.
I crept to the back of the estate, where the sturdy dormer windows jutted from the sloped roof.
I could jump high enough to catch the edge if I could get a running start.
I measured the distance, my muscles tensing.
Then—
I sprinted forward.
At the last second, I pushed off the ground with all my strength, fingers reaching desperately—
And caught the top of the dormer.
My breath hitched, my arms burning as I dangled there for a second, trying to steady myself.
Then, with a grunt of effort, I hauled my legs up, scrambling onto the narrow structure.
I sucked in deep breaths, my pulse hammering in my ears.
But I wasn’t done yet.
The balcony loomed just above me—
Several feet too high to leap from this position.
My stomach clenched.
I had one shot.
If I missed—
If I miscalculated—
I would fall. Hard.
And it would be a messy death.
I stared at the iron railing, my fingers flexing, my breath ragged with exertion.
There was no turning back.
I had to try.
I crouched low, gathered every ounce of strength, and jumped.
My fingers brushed the railing, but slipped.
My stomach lurched as I plummeted downward, barely managing to catch the dormer roof at the last second.
“Shit.” My heart thundered against my ribs, the burn in my arms searing.
That was too close.
I looked up, recalculating the distance, adjusting my angle, my timing.
This time—
I leaped again.
My fingers caught the railing.
A shuddering breath left me as my other hand scrambled for purchase, my grip clenching tight around the iron bars.
I swung my body forward and back, building momentum, my muscles screaming with the effort.
Then—
With a final powerful swing, I kicked my legs upward, catching the landing, my hand grasping the top bar.
I pulled myself over with trembling effort, collapsing onto the balcony floor, gasping.
For a few moments, I just lay there, chest heaving, every muscle burning.
Whoever was inside had to have heard that clatter.
I pressed my palm to the brass doorknob—
And twisted.
The door gave way, swinging open without resistance.
A flood of relief rushed through me.
I crept inside, the room bathed in shadows and moonlight, my gaze instantly finding her.
Emily.
My beautiful angel lay asleep, her hair tangled around her face like strands of golden silk.
I lowered myself to the edge of the bed, my fingers shaking as I reached out to caress her soft hair.
Oh, my beautiful wife.
How I’d missed you.
How would I ever redeem myself for the way I had to treat you the last time we met?
My mind was tormented with the enormity of my sins.
How could Balthazar—that despicable demon—have fathered someone as full of wonder and grace as her?
I swallowed the bitter taste of regret and climbed beside her, my body aching for comfort, for forgiveness—for her.
I pressed my lips to her cheeks, temple, delicate throat, featherlight kisses, a silent plea against her skin.
God, how I love you.
And if she woke to hate me—
Then so be it.
Because I would spend every moment of my existence trying to make this right.
Emily’s eyelids fluttered, then snapped open, her eyes wide, wild with fear.
She sucked in a breath, her mouth parting to scream—
I slapped my palm over her lips, pressing down firmly.
“Shh, shh,” I whispered desperately. “I’m here to tell you everything.”
Her muffled scream sent a shockwave of panic through me. She thrashed, twisting beneath me, her fingernails digging into my arms.
Then—
A quick pain exploded in my palm as her teeth sank into my flesh.
“Ahh—fuck!” I yanked my hand away.
Emily shoved me hard, her chest heaving with fury, her voice revealing rage and heartbreak.
“You’re a monster!” she spat. “You betrayed me! You betrayed our unborn child! How dare you come into my room?”
I lunged forward, clamping my hand over her mouth again, my body straddling hers, pinning her down.
“You must listen to me!” I hissed. “Everything I did—everything—was for Malik. It was all part of a plan.”
Her eyes blazed, the whites stark against the darkness, her body writhing beneath me.
She screamed against my skin, her breath hot, frantic.
“If I let you go,” I panted, struggling to keep her still, “you have to promise not to yell. Can you do that?”
She shook her head wildly, her eyes glistening with fury.
“Emily, please.” My voice broke. “Please.”
Something in my desperation must have struck her, because she stilled.
Then, she nodded.
But I wasn’t stupid.
“I mean it,” I warned. “If you scream, I will restrain you again.”
Another nod.
“Okay.” I exhaled, releasing her. “I’m going to let go now, and you won’t holler. Got it?”
She gave one last nod, her jaw tight.
I removed my palm—
And before I could blink—
Her hand flew across my face, the crack of the slap ringing through the room.
My head snapped to the side from its sheer force.
“You’re a liar,” she seethed, her voice quivering with heartbreak. “I don’t believe you! You broke my heart!”
She started to sob, the sound ripping through me.
I caught her wrists, pinning them above her head, my breath ragged.
“You have to believe me, sweetheart,” I murmured, my voice raw, desperate. “Everything I did was for you.”
She kicked wildly, her body twisting beneath me like a wildcat, her sobs turning guttural, violent.
“I don’t believe you!” she shrieked, thrashing with strength. “You destroyed me, Marcellious! This marriage is over!”
The words hit harder than the slap did.
“You can’t mean that,” I whispered.
Her glistening eyes locked onto mine, filled with pain and betrayal.
“I can, and I do.”
A sob racked her body, her face twisting with devastation.
“You betrayed me,” she choked out. “You slept with Dahlia—”
My stomach dropped.
“—and you cast our love aside.”
Fat tears streamed into her tangled hair, her entire body trembling beneath me.
A painful tightness gripped my throat.
My own eyes moistened.
“I never slept with Dahlia,” I said, my voice hoarse. “I swear it, Emily. I know you don’t believe me, but I love you—with everything I am. Everything I did was for you.”
Her jaw clenched, her chest rising and falling in ragged sobs.
Then—
She spat at me.
A small, wet drop landed on my cheek, sliding down like acid against my skin.
I wiped it away with my forearm, my expression unwavering.
“I deserve this,” I murmured. “And more, my love.”
Her breathing hitched, but her eyes remained full of fire.
I cupped her face gently, my thumb brushing her tear-streaked cheek.
“I’ve made too many mistakes to count. But I want to prove to you that I’m a good man. I want to show you that I’m not a coward, not a cheat.”
I let the words settle, then—
“Let’s start fresh.” I leaned in, my breath warm against her skin. “Let me worship you. I want to make passionate love to you, my beautiful wife.”
I nuzzled the tip of my nose against hers, my voice dipping into something dark and full of need.
“You can ride me all night long,” I whispered, “and scream my name.”
Her breath caught, her lashes fluttering—but just as quickly, her face crumpled with anguish.
“What?” Her voice was low, almost broken. “Now that Dahlia is dead, you suddenly need a woman?”
The merciless words cut through me.
A dull ache twisted in my chest because I deserved them.
But that didn’t mean it didn’t wreck me to see so much pain on her beautiful, furious face.