Page 146 of His Ruin
I tilt my head, not rewarding her with a reaction as her flowers slink to the floor. My gaze is hard and unforgiving as I wait for her tantrum to pass.
“Melody!” Mom calls, and my bride turns to her. “Are you okay?”
“Wonderful,” my sister snaps as she takes in the enforcers with drawn weapons.
“You don’t have to do this,” Dad says softly.
I roll my shoulders easily. “She wants to. Don’t you, baby?”
Melody’s eyes pierce me as they narrow. There’s a tense pause between us, an unspoken conversation flowing.
Refuse me, and they all die.
Her face falls. She knows she has no choice. I think she’s going to surrender, accept her fate, before joining me at my side, where she belongs.
Until her face screws up and she launches herself at me with a fierce cry. She bats wildly at my face as I hold her at arm’s length. Ivan’s men stand quickly at the attack, reaching for their weapons before I glare out at the crowd.
I point at the man closest to me in warning. “Don’t. I’m right where I want to be.”
Melody lands a fist to my jaw before I collar her throat and drag her so close our noses almost touch. My lips pull over my teeth as I growl. “You’re one hit away from a bloodbath, little sister.”
She grabs my wrist, her nails digging into my flesh. “I’m going tokillyou, Kaden.”
I hum, nipping at her plump bottom lip. “As long as it’s by your hand, I’ll die a happy man.”
“Fuck you,” she spits.
“In time,” I croon. “Now, you can either come willingly, or they’ll start dropping bodies. The choice is yours.”
Her bravado slips, fear flickering in her eyes as she assesses the situation. She knows there’s no escape, and I think seeing the realization in her is the sweetest thing about this scene. She looks so hopeless and cornered—like frantic prey who has just given itself willingly to the hungry predator.
“Okay,” she whispers.
I nod. “Get on the altar, Melody.”
She swallows, her throat working beneath my palm. “You have to let me go…”
My nose brushes against hers in a tender touch. “Never, pretty girl.”
Her eyes flutter against her better judgment. She wants to refuse this—to fight—but she can’t. Not when we’ve been promised to each other since the very beginning. I know she feels it deep inside of her, the invisible tether that binds us.
I release her neck before holding out my hand. It’s an olive branch as I offer to escort her. She stares at my calloused palm, the breath rushing past her parted lips, before she delicately places her fingers over mine. Our contrast is so interesting. Thin, long fingers that seem too pure and untainted to be placed against my larger, rougher palm.
I guide her up to our designated spots before taking her other hand. My expression softens for the first time today as I observe the vision that is my sister. Her soft,curved features, the dusky, plump lips with a pronounced cupid’s bow, and her pulse that’s fluttering in her slender neck.
She’s radiant—a gem that shines in any environment. She’s wrapped in white, her golden hair braided into a crown on top of her head. As her veil settles around her, there’s a halo of warmth that surrounds her.
“You’re staring,” she whispers.
“Yeah…” I trail fondly. “I am, aren’t I?”
Her cheeks twinge pink as she looks away from me.
“You’re so beautiful,” I whisper with conviction.
She gasps, her eyes snapping to mine as the air becomes electric. Tendrils zap between us as the warmth of her palms soaks into mine. We’re caught in each other like old times, our connection rekindling and starting a small ember once again.
She’s so fucking strong.
