Leawyn stared down at herself in the basin of water, her sea-blue eyes taking in her hair that fell around her heart-shaped face in thick, long waves. She touched her cheek and trailed her fingertips down to her pale pink lips. Leawyn sighed and swiped the water in the basin roughly to erase her reflection.
Her head snapped up at the sound of footfalls coming towards her room.
Oh Gods, they’re coming, she thought. Moments later, the flap separating her room from the rest of the hut swung aside and in stepped her father and betrothed. She gasped softly when the man’s cold brown eyes met hers.
Xavier kept his merciless eyes focused on her as he stood to his full six-foot-six height. His coal-colored hair brushed the tops of his broad shoulders, spread wide against his defined chest. His arms were bunched with muscles as they rested against his sides. The rumors she heard revolving around this man were all true, Leawyn realized, because looking at him now, all she could think of was danger.
Leawyn could still feel the heavy weight of Xavier’s gaze as she looked over to her father, who spoke suddenly, breaking the tense silence.
“Daughter, this is your betrothed, Xavier,” Boers said nervously as he glanced to Xavier before looking at her again. “Chief of the Izayges.”
Leawyn looked to Xavier again, the heat of his gaze making her uncomfortable. She lowered her head, dipping her body slightly at the waist in greeting.
Xavier continued to study her, raking his eyes up and down her body slowly. She felt even smaller in front of him. As discreetly as possible, Leawyn peeked up at him and studied him much like he did her.
His broad chest was bare, and he wore dark breeches that looked to be made of some type of tough animal skin, similar to leather. She could only spot three noticeable weapons on his person, but she doubted it was all he had on him. He had a sword that was long and wickedly curved strapped to his back, and another long, thick, straight blade hung down from the side of his waist. On the other side of his hip, Leawyn could see the hilt of a dagger peeking out of the waistband of his breeches. She glanced at his arms. They were massive. She looked down, heart rate spiking.
He was terrifying.
“Leave us,” Xavier demanded gruffly. His deep voice caused the demand to come out more like a growl. Leawyn felt her eyes widen, glancing at her father in fear.
Don’t leave me, Leawyn thought.
Her father shifted uncomfortably, but nodded his head. “Of course.” He bowed to Xavier. Giving his daughter one last apologetic look, he turned and lifted open the flap of the tent, leaving Xavier and Leawyn alone.
Leawyn lowered her eyes back to the ground, her chest tight with dread. She heard Xavier move closer to her, and she took a halting breath against the nervousness that seemed to choke her and keep her body paralyzed.
“Tell me your name, girl,” Xavier demanded, staring down at her small form. She was tiny compared to him. He easily towered over her.
Leawyn felt herself bristle slightly at his tone. He didn’t ask, he commanded.
“Leawyn,” she answered softly, proud her voice didn’t come out as shaky as she thought it would.
Xavier’s expressionless mask twisted into an angry scowl.
“Look at me,” Xavier growled, his voice low. When Leawyn’s eyes failed to meet his fast enough, he reached down and gripped her chin and jerked her face up to look at him.
“Your gaze will always meet my own,” he told her sternly, staring down into her wide eyes. “You will only have eyes for me, do you understand?”
Leawyn’s feelings of fear quickly turned into annoyance. “Shall I call you master while I’m at it?” she asked sardonically, glaring at him defiantly. She wasn’t prepared for the sharp jerk he gave her chin as he forced her to tilt her face up higher.
“I do not appreciate the attitude, Leawyn. You will do well to remember who exactly you are talking to, and you will respect me,” Xavier growled down at her, yanking her chin up yet again, and causing a whimper of pain to escape from her.
“Now, do you understand?” he asked again. When she went to give him a nod, he tightened his grip on her before she could follow through with the motion. “The words, Leawyn. I want the words.”
“Yes!” Leawyn gasped out against his tight hold, staring up at him with wide, frightened eyes. “Yes, I understand!”
Leawyn rubbed her aching jaw as he let go of her abruptly. She took a few steps away from him hastily, trying to blink back the tears of pain and fear that clouded her eyes.
“How old are you?” Xavier asked, watching her.
“E-eighteen summers,” Leawyn stuttered, looking up at him nervously. She knew he was much older than she, and the knowledge that she was expected to marry him made her stomach clench with sickness. But, Leawyn knew some girls’ younger than herself were married to much older men. She told herself she should be somewhat grateful.
“We will be married in three days’ time.”
Leawyn’s body tensed in shock, the icy cold feeling of dread washed over her. “What?” She gaped at him. “We can’t!”
She couldn’t live with this man! This possessive, domineering man who didn’t care if he hurt her.
She shook her head. She wouldn’t marry Xavier. Not after meeting him.
“I will not marry you,” Leawyn said suddenly, her brows creasing as she stared up at him in determination.
Xavier stiffened, every muscle in his body tensing as his eyes cut to hers. Leawyn swallowed against the urge to run as she edged away from him, catching the dangerous glint that entered his eyes. The glint was that of a predator who caught sight of its prey right before attacking.
She had a feeling the prey was her.
“What did you say?” Xavier asked, his voice was silky and dripped with promised danger.
Leawyn gulped, but then lifted her chin defiantly while staring at him with more bravery than she felt.
“I will not marry you,” she repeated, backing away from him as he took slow, measured steps towards her.
Xavier shook his head slowly, his icy eyes never leaving hers. “I’ll ask you one more time, Leawyn. What did you just say?”
“I refuse to marry—”
Xavier’s eyes flashed furiously, his hand shooting out and wrapping around the back of her neck in a vice-like grip. Using his other hand, he gripped her jaw brutally.
“You will become my wife, Leawyn,” he said in warning. He leaned in, rubbing his bearded cheek against her smooth one. “And if I find out you have let another man between your legs come our wedding night . . .”
She could only emit a soft gasp of pain as Xavier’s grip around her neck squeezed tighter.
“I’ll kill you,” he whispered softly into her ear.
Leawyn sucked in a sharp breath, and he laughed humorlessly as he drew back and looked into her frightened eyes.
How had her life come to this?
Available
Available now