Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 79563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79563 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
He told me he never thought about why he built a house so big with no plans of ever marrying or having children. But after our first night here, he told me he must have known deep down I was coming. He’d built it for me. I might have cried all over him. He was right. He would always give me what I want. He was doing it before he even knew what it was. What I love most about the house is that while it’s big, it also all feels cozy and intimate. It’s warm and feels like a home.
I grab my book off the nightstand and go to the living room, which connects to the kitchen. I debate having another stab at baking, but decide I really should order some cookbooks or something first. But I haven’t had much desire to leave the house. I want to keep the outside world away from us.
I’ve wonder if my mom has been trying to get a hold of me. I know I was supposed to meet with a potential husband a few days ago, but the day came and went and nothing happened.
Sitting on the sofa I’m surprised when I hear a knock at the front door. I glance towards the way Vlad went out and wonder what I should do. I have a strong feeling he wouldn’t like me answering the door. Plus, I’m only wearing his shirt.
“Tabitha, open the door right this minute.”
I feel a knot form in the pit of my stomach when I hear my mother’s voice. I clutch my book in my hands, desperate to do anything but face her. But I know I have to. I can’t keep living in fear that I’ll be taken from Vlad at any moment.
I drop the book down on the table and make my way over to the door. Opening it, I see my mother looking disheveled. She pushes past me into the house.
“Mother, you can’t just come into Vlad’s house. He hasn’t invited you,” I tell her, straightening my back. I really have no reason to fear her now. She can’t hurt Alena anymore, and deep down I know Vlad will never let me go. Even if that means we have to run away together. I would do that without a second thought. I won’t lose him. I know there are laws in place that would rip us apart.
“Oh, your own mother isn’t invited into your husband’s house?” Her gaze fixes on the ring Vlad put on my finger the night we arrived here. He said he saw it and knew it was made for me.
I look down at the beautiful ring. It’s a simple band studded with diamonds. It’s made for a woman who knows her hands will be busy, and I plan on running a house and taking care of our children. It’s perfect - the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen.
“We aren’t married,” I tell her, adding a hard, “yet.”
“I saw the marriage paper. Signed by the king himself!” she snaps back. “How dare you go and break tradition!” She shakes her head. “You always did think you were better than everyone.” I have no idea what she’s talking about, and I wonder if she’s drunk. I mean, more drunk than normal.
“What the fuck are you doing in our home?” Vlad’s voice is so low and deadly it makes me jump. I didn’t hear him come in. He drops all the logs he was carrying and moves towards us, clearly on a mission.
“You were told you weren’t allowed within a hundred miles of here.” he continues clearing the distance between my mother and him quickly.
“One hundred miles? She doesn’t even live that far from here how could…” I trail off, putting together what he’s saying. My mother isn’t allowed here?
“You were given your orders and five days to clear out, but here you stand, tempting your fate, and I’m the wrong one to tempt it with.” He leans towards my mother, leveling her with a hard stare. “You know I wanted to do more than make you leave. The only reason I didn’t push is because my princess is sweet and soft at the core, and even if she doesn’t care for you, you’re still her mother. She wouldn’t like knowing I wanted you stripped of all your titles and left in the streets.”
I gasp at Vlad’s words. He looks over at me. That deadly look he had slips away. “I won’t let anyone think they can scare you. Or have you live in fear of someone. She sealed her fate the day she stopped acting like a mother and didn’t protect what was brought into this world to be mine.” My heart melts a little more for this man. I don’t know how he keeps doing that, but he does.