Chapter One
Abby's POV
I stood in the hallway, too scared to open the door. The door was slightly open. I could hear men talking inside. My heart jumped when I knew one voice was his. The Lord Commander was back.
He had seen the king. Why didn't he come to tell me the marriage was over? If he hated me, he would have told me right away. This silence was worse.
I leaned closer to listen.
"Is this really needed,Your Highness?" It was Sir Bastian.
"Yes.It is." Abbott's voice was hard. "You will stay away from the main palace. Do you understand me?"
Bastian laughed softly."You look so serious."
"Bastian!"
"Fine,sir. I will stay away." He laughed again. "I will be in the arena."
A door opened and closed. Now it was just my husband—or not my husband—and one other guard.
"Follow him,"Abbott ordered. "Do not lose sight of him. Hold him back if you must, Sir Derek."
"Lord Commander,the last time I tried to hold Sir Bastian—"
"—I know it went badly!"Abbott snapped. "This time, don't be a fool and try to fight him alone. Go. And Abigail," his voice turned cold, "you can come in now."
I froze. How did he know I was there?
I pushed the door open.I walked in slowly, afraid I might fall.
The guard with him, Sir Derek, bowed.
I was confused.People don't bow to me.
"Your Highness…Lady Raven."
Oh. That's me now.
"Please, Sir Derek, call me Abigail," I said quickly.
"Do that,and I will cut out your tongue," Abbott said sharply. "Leave us."
The guard left fast. The door closed. I was alone with him.
"I don't mind if people call me Abby,"I said, the words rushing out. "And I'm not a real princess. I just married you. I read the rules and it's all so…" I saw the anger in his eyes and stopped. "Sorry."
He looked at me like I was nothing. "The marriage is real. It stands."
"It is?"The word slipped out. "You didn't end it?"
"No.You are my wife now. You may not like it, but you represent me. You are a duchess. You are Lady Raven. You are Her Highness. You will move to the Mistress's rooms. They are—"
"—but that's so far from here!"I cried out without thinking. "How can we be married if you send me away?"
His patience broke. "I wasn't finished! You will do as I say!"
He turned to leave. A sudden, wild bravery filled me.
"Is this our life?"I asked his back. "You in your part of the palace, me in mine? You give orders, and I follow? I don't want that!"
He spun around,his eyes full of fire. "I don't care what you want!"
"Well,I won't go!" I yelled, stepping forward. "I won't be thrown away. So go on! Stab me again if you want to!"
The hall went silent. Oh no. I just dared a crazy man to hurt me.
"You make me so angry!"he shouted. "You won't leave, and I won't drag you out. And I won't have you whipped for not obeying me. So I will leave."
He walked out fast.
Whipped?The word hung in the air. It couldn't be true. It couldn't.
I shook my head and ran after him into the hall.
"Do you like the color blue?" I asked, my voice too high. "The dressmaker brought dresses for the ball. There's a blue one with gold. Do you like blue?"
He stopped. He looked at me, annoyed. "Why are you talking about dresses?"
"My mother said a happy wife wears a dress her husband loves.A dress he wants to take off." I bit my lip. "But that doesn't make sense. If he loves it, why take it off…"
"Stop talking!"he yelled.
Then everything happened too fast.
He grabbed me and pushed me against the wall near a small table.His free hand smashed the vase on it to the floor. Then he kissed me. It wasn't a nice kiss. It was hard and angry. It hurt.
He put me on the broken table and forced my legs apart. His cold hand touched my leg, high up my thigh. A new, deep fear filled me.
"What are you doing?"I gasped.
"It will be fast,wife," he snapped.
He moved his hand, grabbed my dress, and ripped it. The top tore open. I tried to cover my chest.
"You want this,right? You want me?!" he yelled. He turned me around and pushed me into the wall, his hands rough on my chest. "You like this?!"
Tears filled my eyes and fell. "No, stop… please!"
He let me go at once.
I turned to look at him. His eyes were black. His face was hard. He looked like a devil.
"Why?"I cried, holding my torn dress.
"Stop lying!"he roared.
"I'm n-not!"I said, shaking.
"Stop acting like you are happy to be my wife!Stop it! You want my nephew! I disgust you! So stop!"
I cried harder. I couldn't form words. My dress was torn. I was almost naked in the hall when I heard someone coming.
I didn't think. I jumped against him, hiding behind his body. I waited for him to push me away and shame me.
He didn't.
He looked toward the sound."Come in here and I will have your head!" he screamed.
The footsteps stopped. It was quiet again.
I moved away, ashamed, holding my arms tight around me. He looked at me—crying, my face red and wet—and stepped closer. I moved back.
"Abby…"
"Please,stop… please," I begged.
He let out a hard breath and stepped back. Then he pulled his shirt off over his head. He stood without a shirt. I closed my eyes, scared of what came next.
"Open your eyes, Abby. I am done."
I did. He held his shirt out to me. He wasn't looking at me.
"Put this on,"he said, his voice empty.
I took the shirt and pulled it on. It was huge on me. It smelled like him.
I cried harder. He looked away.
"Can I go?"I whispered.
He didn't look at me. He pointed down the hall. "Go."
I didn't wait. I ran. I needed to find a place to hide. There was no safe place for me.