“I see you’ve brought your little half-blood,” said the man Christopher introduced to me as Marlowe Elderman.

He looked like a man that was never off guard, one that never smiled and never changed his mind. His eyes were the eyes of a killer. I was sure of it. The same eyes glared from the younger man standing at his side.

Luke Elderman. The man I had apparently come here to marry. He stood there unyielding and firm as a rock with his hair as black as the shadows he was lurking in, observing.

“Is everything ready for the ceremony?” Christopher asked.

“Yes, old friend. But for your sake, I hope you haven’t forgotten our bargain.” Marlowe’s voice was sharp and cold.

He stepped forward from his desk, towering over Christopher like a shadow stretching and darkening everything in its wake.

“The second you delay on our promise is the second I throw her out to the wolves. You know me well enough to know that I always keep my promises.”

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat. Bargain?

Christopher hadn’t said anything about a bargain. We had talked on the way to the castle while the wolves I thought were sent to kill us were actually sent to lead us to Marlowe, but not about this.

“I’ll be back on the first full moon with reinforcements to take Jaigan down,” Christopher replied quickly. “If I’m not here, then you can throw her out.”

My throat closed up. Throw me out? What in heaven's name did he agree to?

Luke Elderman’s eyes found mine then. Cold. Blue as glass. Piercing. He didn’t say a word, but it was as if he wanted to read my thoughts, as if he could. I looked away, almost anxiously, but I knew he wouldn't do the same. I could feel his stare still pressed against my skin.

“Does she know to stay within the castle walls?” Marlowe asked.

“No,” Christopher said.

“Does she know the Ten Commandments?”

“No.”

“Does she know her duties to my son?”

“No!”

I snapped, tired of them talking about me like I wasn't there.

“Stay within the castle walls, learn the Ten Commandments, and perform wifely duties. Got it! Can we please get this fake wedding over with already?”

The silence that followed was delicious. Their faces looked like I’d spat holy water at them. I liked that.

---

“This is where you’ll be staying,” Irene said.

She was the maid Luke had personally assigned to me after the sad affair the Elderman family and my father called a wedding.

I liked her. Unlike my new husband and the rest of his castle's inhabitants, she actually spoke more than five words to me and treated me like a human being.

My room was… extravagant. Too extravagant. The walls gleamed with gold. Heavy satin curtains draped the windows. A massive bed dominated the centre, with sheets so soft I was sure it would feel like clouds. I even had a bath tub.

“Let me know if you need anything,” Irene said with a small smile. “You can just call my name, and I’ll be here.”

“Will Luke be sleeping here too?” I blurted as she turned to leave.

“No. Master Luke’s room is one before yours.”

My chest tightened. The thought of his room being that close made my skin crawl. During the ceremony I asked Christopher if I would have to sleep with Luke tonight. He told me only if I wanted to.

Want to? As if I would ever want to! He was a stranger. A dangerous, handsome stranger who probably had a list of women he had killed under his bed or somewhere.

“Thank you,” I said quickly. Too quickly.

But then the door slammed shut. And I heard it. Two clicks.

Locked.

“Irene?” I called, nerves buzzing in my veins. “Did you just lock the door?” I tugged the handle. It wouldn't budge.

“Sorry,” she said through the door, not sounding sorry at all. “Master Marlowe said to lock you in every night. Don’t worry. I will come and open the door for you tomorrow.”

“No, no, no. Irene, listen to me,” I said, my voice cracking. “I’m claustrophobic. I can’t be locked in. Please, let me speak to Marlowe. He’ll understand.”

“No, young mistress. The master made up his mind already. He does not change his mind. I come tomorrow, eh?”

Her footsteps faded.

I slammed my fist against the wood until pain shot up my arm. “Somebody! Open! The bloody! Door!” I yelled. “Please…”

Silence.

I dragged myself to the window, breathing hard. Breathing angry. Fifteen feet from the ground. No way out; at least not tonight.

Then the bells rang. All of them. North. South. East. West.

Intruders!

I heard the shout echo across the courtyard just as the heavy gates creaked open. Marlowe strode out, followed by two huge ash-coloured wolves. Their fur bristled like ashes from fresh fire.

The intruders approached with their eyes fixated on my side of the castle. My heart sank. They could see me. Somehow, they knew.

“Marlowe,” one of them said. His voice was smooth, mocking. “You look like you haven’t aged a day, old friend.”

“Thank you, Primus. But let’s skip the nonsense, shall we?”

“Fine. You know what we want Marlowe. Hand over the human girl.” Primus said bluntly. “Hand her over, and Jaigan says all will be forgiven.”

“The girl is my wife,” Luke’s voice rang out, clear and cold and expressionless. He stepped from behind the intruders, his figure blending perfectly with the shadows. My chest tightened. Why did he say it like that? Loud enough for me to hear?

“Wife?” Another intruder, a woman with black hair and a sharp attitude sneered. “Don’t tell me you did what I think you did, Luke.”

“Joyce Regalia is my wife,” Luke said. His words cut the air like a blade.

He brushed past them toward the castle. “She is part of the Elderman clan now. So you tell Jaigan that unless he wants war, his dogs are never allowed anywhere near her.”

There was a knot in my chest. Did he just claim me?

The redhead’s eyes burned. “If you do this, Luke, there’s no turning back. We will find a way to kill the half-blood.”

I stepped away from the window, my heart beating fast.

“Young mistress? Young mistress?” Irene’s voice jolted me. She was already back inside my room oblivious to everything that was happening outside.

“Yes?” I managed to answer.

“Master says I should prepare you for tonight’s dinner. And look, he bought you a dress! Isn’t it lovely?”

“What dinner?”

“Oh my! It’s the one and only dinner when you assert your claim on the young master. As his wife. His one true mate.” She beamed.

The blood drained from my face. Mate?

“It’s basically your coronation,” she continued. “Every honorable and reputable person across the realm will be there. And my job is to make you look your best. To make you almost edible, luv.”