Chapter 5 Marriage

JASMINE

An unusual stinging ache at the center of my forehead precedes the movement of my eyelids. Showing the first glimpse of a blurry ceiling above me.

The ache numbs down slowly while my eyes adjust to see clearly. A shiver skated down my spine at the realization of where I was, just when I met eyes with the exact blue eyes from earlier in the woods.

I perked up to my feet almost instantly, grabbing scissors by the bedside table as I had it pointed in the direction of the lady in front of me. Whom I presumed to be a nurse.

"Let me go!" I growled, holding on tight to the scissors in one hand.

"No!" A voice hissed.

"You're no longer giving the orders, Princess. Drop it!" The fierceness of his tone startled me.

It was enough effort just to keep myself standing. For years back at my birth pack I'd longed for more adventure. For any excitement beyond wandering around the walls of the pack. Now that I had it, all I suddenly wanted was to return to that place and be forgotten.

I dropped the scissors and closed my eyes, several years at the pack of watching men train, and I missed the opportunity to escape. This was my fault, I had just become a captive of unknown rogue men.

"Leave us!" The man from earlier said, his voice cold and callous as he stared at me. In that instant, the Lady from earlier scurried off even without a single glance my way.

Slowly in my head, I felt like a bird trapped in a cage of circumstances beyond my control. Unable to do anything for herself.

"What makes you think, any of whatever act you just pulled a couple of seconds ago would do any good in me letting you go?" His voice cuts through the bustle of emotions in my head. I was forced to look up at him.

My jaw nearly dropped as I took in the sight of the man in front of me. Straight, styled jet-black hair with the exact familiar pair of piercing blue eyes. He stood surprisingly tall compared to Kieran with keen eyes, and a faded scar down his neck and across one cheek. It was clear, this man was not to be toyed with.

Silence fell heavily in the room afterward, except for the clicking of his boots on the floorboards of the room we were both in. Just then I realized where he was headed. For me...

Tingles of alarm cascaded down my spine as I watched him approach me. But then I forced myself to hold my ground even as every self-preservation instinct screamed at me to run.

He dug a hand into the side pocket of his jeans, and in seconds had a pocket knife taken out. I backed away instantly, knowing he could hurt me.

I backed away for a bit, and surprisingly he followed. His eyes glued directly on mine, like a predator after its prey.

The minute he was up close, he took a lot of my hair that had come loose and raised his knife, slicing off the end of it.

"My name is Darius Brando, King and leader of the Ravenwood kingdom," He began, a smile tugging at his lips as he stared back at me.

"If you want a ransom, I'm the worst possible target!" I shot at him instantly, taking a few steps away from him.

"What makes you think you're nothing less than that?" He scowled with a sardonic smile as he stared at me.

"I'm nothing of the sort, you foul-smelling pig!" I snapped back, glaring at him.

"Just like a Thorne, always wanting the last word," He tucked the lock of my hair into the pocket of his vest and then grabbed me by the wrist.

When I remained silent, he added. "You're just as good as dead to them,"

Fear swelled in my chest, choking off my breathing at his harsh words as he had me dragged out of the bedroom, headed for who knows where. Tears filled my eyes, blurring down my vision. Which was the last thing I wanted.

Soon we'd arrived at a separate hallway, leading to a golden double door engraved with his name Darius on each side.

He had me pushed without any hesitation as I came crashing into the cold floor of the room he'd taken me.

"Simon, search her for any weapons and hurry!" Darius ordered.

"No!" I tried wrenching free but this rogue man, Simon, and his knife were uncompromising.

"Let me go!" I cried out. My tone was as bitter as I felt.

Simon ordered me from behind to face him. When I did, I was surprised to find that he wasn't much older than me. Instantly, he had me strapped to a bed with my arms and legs now suspended to the steel of the bed.

I tried wrenching free a couple of times but the straps just wouldn't budge. And just then, Darius leaned forward with a smile creased on his face as he stared into my eyes.

"Easy, Jasmine Roman," He urged, running a hand down my cheeks and then cupping my face in one hand. I clenched my jaw, determined to endure with some shred of dignity.

"He knows my name?" I thought to myself.

"Well it's awful to know that the people who hurt you are not on your best of terms," Darius said leaning closer to me by the bed. That was an understatement.

"What if I tell you, I have a proposal? One that would do you some good to these people," He added.

My eyebrows shot up at his words, trying to figure out how on earth it sounded more like he was willing to help get revenge over those who hurt me.

"Why do you care?" I snapped, glaring at him.

But then, he backed away from me, headed for the drawers by the bookshelf afar off, and then pulled out a file.

"In here contains a written marriage agreement, and I believe this could do some good," He added, handing out the file to me.

A pang hit my chest at his first direct acknowledgment of my new relationship status.

"Marriage?!"...