Total pages in book: 180
Estimated words: 168587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 843(@200wpm)___ 674(@250wpm)___ 562(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 168587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 843(@200wpm)___ 674(@250wpm)___ 562(@300wpm)
A white-carpeted runway runs the long length of the aisle. It signifies my innocence. White as a winter snow. The rest of the inside is lit up with red lights, giving the place a bloody feel. It’s part of our marriage oath. I have to bleed for him. And he will bleed for me.
I might give my life over to him in front of all these people, but I won’t mean it. He has to know that, right? Because I know he sure as fuck won’t. He doesn’t love me. He doesn’t even fucking know me. Not like he knew Whitney.
My eyes move to the front of the altar and see a set of baby-blue eyes already staring up at me. Even from this far away I can see him as clear as day. He stands there, his arms behind his back, legs wide and shoulders pulled back. A look of malicious intent covers his hard features.
My father gave me an ultimatum—marry Tyson or else. The else being far worse than becoming Tyson’s wife, I’m sure.
“Lake?” Miller gets my attention from behind me.
I turn to look at him over my shoulder to see him holding my veil. It’s tacky and over the top. I hate it. My mother ordered it. Said it would make me look the part. Of what? Not sure what she meant, and she never answered. I left it behind and stashed it in another room on purpose.
He reaches down, picks up my train, and moves it to the side to get closer to me. Sighing, I turn back, and my eyes find Tyson again before my brother places my veil on.
NINE
TYSON
I stand at the front of the Cathedral, my eyes dropping when she pushes away from the railing. I half expected her to jump to her death. But to my surprise, she glared at me as if she’s ready to hand her life over to me.
My eyes drop to scan the rows and rows of pews filled with Lords. I can’t see who is who through their masks and cloaks, but I can hear their gasps and hushed voices follow as they all stare at me, trying to figure out what the fuck is going on.
Ryat stands next to me with his arms crossed in front of him. He will be the only other Lord standing with me today. He hasn’t even asked or questioned my motives. It doesn’t even matter, really. He understands I’ll do whatever needs to be done because he’s the same way. He had his own reasons for doing what he needed to do when it came to Blakely. And I was there for him to help however I could.
The pastor I hired to replace the one that Luke had comes to stand next to me at the front of the altar and nods, letting me know he’s ready.
“Wicked Game” by Lusaint begins to play throughout the high ceilings and I smile at the song I chose for her to walk down the aisle to. Luke had something completely different. I thought this would be more fitting.
As the double doors open, the guests rise to their feet to welcome my wife. She and her brother stand side by side. Her long train fluffed to perfection behind her. The dress is form-fitting, showing off her large breasts and thin waist. It flares at the bottom, making it look like she’s walking on a cloud. A veil covers her pretty face. If she didn’t need to say her vows, I’d have made her open her mouth and filled it with a ball gag. Wouldn’t that have been a sight? Her standing in front of her parents with drool running from her painted lips and onto her expensive dress. The thought alone makes me hard.
In time.
The song plays on a loop as they make their way up the long aisle. Miller comes to a stop as the pastor asks, “Who gives this woman away?”
Her brother’s eyes glare at me. “I do, Father.”
I chose him to give her away for a reason. I want to laugh, but refrain. Instead, I hold out my left hand, and he slowly places hers in mine. When I yank a little too hard, she trips over her dress, but I keep her up.
Her brother takes his seat next to their parents. There’s absolutely nothing they can do. The Lords have arranged marriages for multiple reasons, so the fact that I get to have her should terrify them. It proves just how far I’m willing to go to get what I want. I’ve been biding my time. I went three years without sex and then waited three more years for this moment. I’ve always prided myself on my patience.
I reach out and lift the veil, pushing it over the top of her head to see her bloodshot eyes meet mine. She drops them to the floor, and it shows me just how submissive she’ll be. She’ll crawl if I tell her to. Won’t that be a sight? She’s pretty in that fake ‘I’m insecure’ kind of way, so she bleaches her hair, whitens her teeth, and have big fake tits. Too bad Luke made her that way. The Laikyn Minson I remember had more self-respect than that. I’m going to test her every chance I get just to see how much it’ll take for her to break.