CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER TWELVE: A GLIMPSE OF US ROSE POV Did he just mention that he intends to finalize our marriage? Yes, I believe he did. His comments cause me to become speechless for a while, with my limbs remaining still and my grip on his shirt relaxing. For some reason, unrelated to the preceding adrenaline spike, my chest heaves up and down heavily. I stare at him as he carries me, taking in the strong angles of his jaw and the straight but slightly crooked nose that characterizes the guy who, thanks to my consent, is now my husband. The past hit me at that precise time when the priest asked me to be his wife until death does us part, and all I wanted to do was flee and never look back. I still have bleeding in my heart from that incident, and I doubted I could control it this time. Since why? I fear that it will be forever if I allow him to harm me. He had already reached his car and opened the passenger door by the time I forced myself to snap out of my daydream. I struggled in his grip, trying to get as far away from him as possible. Saying, "Let me go." "No." 'I must return to see how Uncle Raven and Belle are doing." 'They're all okay, Hades and the others cared for the visitors." "Still—" He restrains me from writhing by placing his rough, powerful palm on my neck. His harsh eyes stared into mine from only breaths away from his face. "On your wedding day, stop worrying about everyone else." I meant for my voice to be stern, but it was nearly a whisper, "This is not a real wedding."  "Yes, it is. You said 'I do' in front of God and all of his holy subjects." "You don't believe in holy things," she said. He grins. "You remember; were you really that into on me?" I sigh and turn away from him, but he still has me in place with his hold on my neck. "Don't assume to yourself, I only recall information that will be helpful." "You still recall what I taught you?" I suddenly say, "I do not," as my chest resumes its rapid rise and fall. That isn't the point. The range of his voice dips, "Then what is it? Oh, is it the fact that I don't believe in holy things that's the problem?" "Yes." 'You do, and that's what matters." "Who says that I do?" 'A princess through and through, you believe in anything the brotherhood believes in." I closed my fist and pounded on his chest. He permits me before being visibly uncomfortable. 'I'll have my hands full with you tonight, won't I early this evening? 'Not if you want to keep your dick in its proper place." His laugh lines around his eyes get lighter and shinier as he chuckles. He rubs his fingers across my skin, sending zap-like feelings to the bottom of my stomach. "Oh, it will stay where it belongs, and maybe I'll use it to shut that stubborn mouth for once. When your lips encircle my dick, you won't have much to say, will you? When he said those exact words, I felt a shudder run through my entire body, so I blurted out something to hide my reaction. "Perhaps when you're in a casket." He aligns his mouth with my ear until his hot breaths are the only sensation I feel on my skin, saying, "It's a bad omen to imagine being a widow when you're a bride, Princess. It might happen sooner than you anticipated." His words hit me like an electric shock as I backed away. Asking, "W-what do you mean?" He put me on my feet only to push me into the passenger seat. I don't object because his words are all I can think about. What does he mean when he says I'll get divorced earlier than I think? I turned my attention to Ethan as he entered the driver's seat. 'What did you just say, exactly?" As he fastens the seatbelt around me, his entire body bends forward in my direction, and his unique fresh scent assaults my senses. He pauses and spreads the palm of his hand on my stomach, where there is a blood stain, as his mouth is only a few centimetres away from mine. "Our life together started with blood," he says firmly. 'What outcome do you anticipate?" Unexpectedly, a blockage in my throat caused me to swallow. "Didn't you say we make our own fate?" 'Every action only leads us back to the course we were always destined to take, I lied. It was always predetermined." It took me a moment, but I finally noticed the resolve in his eyes. It's not the typical kind, like the kind I have when I look in the mirror first thing in the morning. It is darker, more ferocious, and determined to succeed, even if it means consuming everyone, even himself.   What happened to you during these past years, Ethan? I hated myself for thinking and even voicing that question when I promised myself I'd never get caught in his maze again. "Why did you marry me?" I murmured the question I'd meant to ask for the past week. "Because I wanted to." "That's not an answer." "It is the only answer you'll need. I married you because I wanted to. You're my wife now, and nothing and no one will change that fact. Not even you." "You better be ready for the hell I'll bring to your life." I despise myself for having those thoughts and asking those questions after self-promising to never again become lost in his labyrinth. I mumble the question I've been meaning to ask for the past week, "Why did you marry me?" 'I did it because I wanted to." 'That is not a response." 'You won't need another response; I married you because I wanted to; you are now my wife, and nothing, especially not you, will change that." 'You had best be prepared for the horror I will bring." "Oh, I'm more than ready." He kisses my forehead, and I froze, not expecting the soft, intimate gesture. His lips linger for a second as if he's savoring the moment and the newness of it. Ethan has never kissed me on the forehead before, not that I would've let him, but now, he seems hell-bent on doing whatever he wishes. He pulls back before I can protest, but the imprint of his lips remains on my skin, burning like wildfire. "To the hell you'll bring, Princess," says Ethan as he pulls out a half-full bottle of Jack Daniels from the back seat and takes a sip before offering it to me. I grab the bottle from his hands and take a big gulp, saying, "I'll drink to that." As he pulls out of the parking lot, Ethan smiles and gives me his side profile. I don't get to see the guards or Hades because we don't pass the other people. However, the gunfire sounds have stopped, indicating the attack is over. I would have been safely leading Uncle Raven and Belle back to the house if it weren't for the brute sitting next to me. I realize I was staring at his smile and face once more. It seems sincere, even joyful, but it's all just part of his excellent facade. The number of times he has truly grinned from the heart, I can count on one hand. As if they are not a single face, his lips move but not his eyes. 'I know you find me appealing, so please hold back till we are out of sight of other people, Princess." I take another sip from the bottle, letting the scalding liquid flow down my neck, "I don't know what you're talking about." 'It strangely suits you, but I adore it when you play the innocent." I take another large sip, cringing at the aftertaste, and say, "Shut up." He winks, "Liquid courage." "Nice." 'Maybe I want to finish the bottle to squirt it up your ass, but who said it was liquid courage?" Again, he said, "I didn't know you thought of me so much in a sexual sense, but take it easy on the drinking—I know you're a lightweight." 'I'm no longer a lightweight. Were. Past tense." He furrows his brow and asks, "Really now?" briefly turning his attention away from the road to me. I take the biggest mouthful I've ever taken, trying not to gag from the burn and the potent aftertaste, and say, "I can finish the bottle." 'If you specify." I continue pursuing my goal and stick out my chin at him. I consider the bottle of Jack Daniels my current war and take swallow after sip as he drives through the neighbourhoods. Ethan occasionally looks at me strangely before returning his attention to the road. I'm done by the time the car comes to a stop. The empty bottle is dangled in front of his face. I smiled, "It is done," then laughed at the conclusion. To stop the noise, I clap my hand over my mouth. 'Oh, dear. I'm wasted."