Uncharted Territory
Chapter thirteen
Lucianna looked beautiful in her wedding gown.
Even while glaring at him, there was something mystical about the way the pearls on her dress caught the sunlight.
She looked like a rare treasure a pirate would comb the Heartless Tides to find.
Finn smirked at the thought of how she would respond to being viewed as a prize to be claimed.
He felt her gaze burn hotter at the sight of his expression, though he was focused on leading them through the castle.
To his chambers.
To celebrate their nuptials.
A tradition that it seemed Lucianna was unaware of, judging by the way her face had turned scarlet at the pointed well-wishes from some attendees.
If it weren’t for the train of people following behind them, Finn was certain his wife would be dismantling the vows they just spoke. She was doing what she could in spite of their circumstances, though. Her grip on his arm was liable to leave a bruise.
They arrived at his door, and he opened it with a flourish.
“After you,” he murmured.
Lucianna let out an indignant huff before storming inside.
Finn glanced over his shoulder at the crowd of friends and family.
The custom of seeing off the bride and groom was rather disconcerting in this circumstance.
Perhaps in any circumstance. Castien had forbidden anyone to follow him and Wren after their wedding.
Finn . . . had not thought that far ahead, admittedly.
He’d been so focused on the fact that he was to be married that he didn’t stop to consider the traditions they’d be subjected to.
No doubt his bride was going to think he’d done this on purpose. Finn mustered up a smile, nodded to everyone, then went inside and closed the door behind him with a cringe. What a terribly awkward tradition. He would see to it that any future Valengards weren’t tortured in the same manner.
A letter bearing a red wax seal slipped under the door. But before he could bend down to pick it up, his wife started what was sure to be a rousing fight.
“How could you?” she snapped. “That was the most humiliating thing I have ever been subjected to.”
Finn left the letter on the floor, though he knew it would need to be answered soon, as it was from his cousin. There was a reason they got married so early in the day and forewent a reception, after all. They did not have time to waste.
He turned around.
“I am sorry, Lucianna.” It was the first time he had called her by just her first name, and it made him pause for a moment. “I forgot about the tradition. It was not enjoyable for me, either.”
She shook her head. Finn noticed that she had torn off her veil and thrown it onto his bed.
“I saw you smirking. You take pleasure in torturing me.”
Finn tipped his head up to the ceiling in exasperation
“That wasn’t about this. I am not so terrible as to think we are to—” He stopped, unable to say the words.
“Of course you wouldn’t think that. Because you don’t desire me.” Lucianna hurled his words from the night before at him. “And why would you? It is not as though you are beholden to me. I imagine you can charm any woman you like into your bed, whether you’re wearing a ring or not.”
Finn clenched his jaw and stalked toward her. He stopped when he was a breath away and glared down at her. Her kohl-lined eyes blazed with anger.
“I am a man of my word,” he growled. “I will have no other. I am yours and you are mine.”
Lucianna scowled.
“Your words mean nothing to me. I have gathered enough about your illustrious reputation to know that our vows are no better than vapors. Here one day and gone the next.”
It would have hurt less had she slapped him. Finn took a step back. He knew that his past wasn’t a blank slate. He’d kissed more than one young lady in the shadows of gardens or behind bookcases. But to be seen in such a heinous light . . . it almost brought him to his knees.
“I see,” he murmured, and ran a hand over his mouth. “Should I expect you to break our vows, then?”
“W-what?” she sputtered.
“I’m only asking so that I can be prepared, as you’ve said our vows have no meaning. I don’t want to grow ill and be surprised when you abandon me.”
“That is not what I meant.” She clutched the gold locket around her neck.
“Then what did you mean, Lucianna?” Finn pressed. “Or are you perhaps afraid and lashing out at me because I’m the only one around?”
Externally, he was furious. Internally, Finn was begging for her to retract her words.
Lucianna’s face became pinched with anguish.
“If it had been my choice, I would have never married you,” she said after a moment of agonizing silence. “But as it was not my choice, here we stand. I bear your ring and your name. There is nowhere else for me to go without ruining my family for generations to come.”
Finn looked down, unable to see her in a Tides-cursed wedding gown as she drove a dagger into his heart.
It is not as though he loved her, but to hear her state so plainly that she did not want to be married was still difficult.
Especially after all she had already said.
She had an uncanny way of finding and prodding the most tender parts of his soul.
“I intend to keep the vows to the best of my ability.” Finn’s heart jumped as she continued to speak. “But no, I do not have any faith in you to do the same. That is what I meant.”
Finn swallowed, then nodded.
“Very well. You have made yourself clear. I have done the same. All that is left is to move forward.”
He looked up in time to see Lucianna dip her chin in agreement. After drawing in a steadying breath, he turned back to the door and retrieved Castien’s letter.
“This is from my cousin,” he stated. “I imagine it holds instructions for us.”
He broke the seal and began to read.
Finn,
Meet me in my study within the hour. Bring Lucianna.
-Cas
“Insightful,” he drolled. “We are to go to Castien’s study immediately.”
Lucianna looked down at her gown. The expansive skirts of the dress pooled around her feet.
“We’ll change first, of course,” Finn added.
She nodded, then left through the inner door to go to her chambers.
Once he was alone, Finn’s shoulders sagged.
He unbuttoned his coat and threw it onto the bed.
It landed next to Lucianna’s discarded veil.
A vision came to him unbidden. One with an image similar to this one, only far more pleasant.
The kind of wedding night—or day, as it were—a man looked forward to.
Finn shook away the image, then removed his shirt. A knock came at the inner door right as he reached for his belt.
“Yes?” he called out.
Lucianna entered, then stopped in her tracks. Her face turned pink. Finn stifled a smirk, opting to simply raise a brow in question.
“I-I didn’t mean to interrupt. I can—” She looked over her shoulder, then back at him.
Satisfaction curled through him when her gaze dipped down to his chest, then bounced back up.
His wife may not trust him, but that didn’t make her immune to him either.
His guard was up around his Gift still, though some of it always leaked through.
A bit of his pleasure faded as he wondered if he would ever know if she was attracted to him apart from his Gift.
That question was always lurking about his mind. Even if he held back for the rest of his life—something he didn’t think himself capable of—he’d never be freed of the burdensome knowledge that every person he came into contact with was influenced in some small way by his Gift.
“You’re all right. I assume you have need of something?”
She bit her lip. He clenched his jaw as he recalled just how close he’d come to kissing her during the wedding.
“I do not have a dedicated lady’s maid here,” she said quietly. “And I am unsure of how to call for her. In the past, they have shown up of their own accord.”
Finn’s brow furrowed. Then it occurred to him: her dress. There were many buttons along the back. It was unlikely she could reach them. He scratched the back of his neck. Lucianna’s gaze tracked the movement, sending warmth to his abdomen.
“I can call for my butler and have him locate a maid. I imagine much of the staff is cleaning up the wedding festivities, but perhaps it won’t take too long to find someone.”
Lucianna opened her mouth, then closed it, wavering. Finn waited for whatever it was she was going to say.
“It has been made apparent to me that we need all the time we have for this undertaking. I do not want to keep His Highness waiting.” She pressed a hand to her stomach.
“Could you . . . would you unbutton my dress? I am wearing something underneath, and you would only need to undo a few of them. I can handle the rest.”
Again, Finn had to smooth his expression. It fascinated him how Lucianna could be a wildfire of indignation one moment and incredibly anxious the next. He supposed their situation warranted a whirlpool of emotion, though.
“Yes, I can help,” he rasped.
Lucianna turned around and placed a hand on the doorframe between their rooms. Finn approached her and paused at the sight of her long hair.
Carefully, he brushed it over her shoulder.
Lucianna shivered in response. Finn struggled to breathe as his fingers found the first button.
He undid each one, exposing the silk garment beneath the dress.
It was trimmed with lace. Goose bumps appeared on Lucianna’s shoulders.
He imagined what they would feel like beneath his lips.
He cleared his throat. “Will that do?” His voice was lower than usual.
Lucianna clutched at the fabric around her.
“I think so. Thank you,” she whispered, then fled through the door and slammed it shut before he could form a coherent reply.
Finn braced his hands on the doorframe. Drew in a shaky breath.
He was in uncharted territory.
His mind filled with images of soft hands, lace, and fiery hazel eyes. A pained laugh escaped him.
Yes, this was uncharted territory, to be sure. But Finn was of the opinion that all great adventures started off with a step into the unknown.