Contract 26
Fiona stroked her chest to calm herself down. She looked around the library and sighed. Luckily, Marius had left after that minor incident. The threats that followed after she hit him were as intimidating as his six-foot-four height, but he actually left without hurting her. Fiona didn't know if she had gotten lucky, or if Marius was so surprised by her actions that he chose to leave her alone.
Either way, she knew her stay in this place wouldn't be as seamless as she had expected. Biting her lower lip, she once again tried to calm herself. She didn't know what was going to happen next, but one thing was certain: she wasn't going to let those people trample her. She was done being everyone's scapegoat. She was ready to fight. Then she thought about Elijah.
Yes, she wanted to stay here, but what about him? It seemed that she had already caused him so much trouble.
Fiona paced the library, her thoughts racing as she tried to regain composure after the confrontation with Marius. She glanced at the door, half-expecting Marius to return, but relief washed over her when Elijah entered instead.
"How did it go?" Fiona asked, her voice tinged with anxiety as she turned to face him. "What did his majesty say?"
Elijah managed a reassuring smile, though his eyes betrayed a hint of weariness. "It went well. The King gave his blessing."
Fiona bit her lip, her fingers twisting nervously. "Maybe we should reconsider this," she murmured, her gaze searching his face for any sign of doubt. She had been very impulsive. At the end of the day, Elijah is still a Prince and there is a huge possibility that he will become the Alpha King.
Elijah stepped closer, his expression gentle but firm. "No, Fiona. Everything will be fine. Trust me."
"But how did the King agree to this?" Fiona pressed, her voice trembling slightly. "I was married once. He knows that. I could bring you shame. I-
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"He trusts my judgment. Besides, our arrangement benefits everyone. He sees that." Elijah answered almost immediately.
Fiona shook her head. "Does he really? Or is there something more he's not saying?"
Seeing his reaction, Fiona continued. "I mean- maybe this was a mistake all along. You've already helped me by getting me out of my pack. There's no need for you to sacrifice your name just by- by marrying me. We can still take care of the contract, and I can work- I can become your personal physician, a healer. We don't-"
He stopped her by holding her shoulders. She flinched, surprised at the sudden contact. "Did something happen while I was gone?" he asked.
"W-What?"
""Was it
my
mother?" he continued asking. "Carissa?" he asked. "Or was it my brother?"
"Elijah..." she faked a chuckle. "I don't know what you're talking about. I- I just thought that your family's reaction was something else and I-"
His face darkened. "Who is it?" His voice was almost a low growl Elijah's gaze burned with intensity as he took another step toward Fiona. She instinctively stepped back, her heart pounding in her chest. His grip on her shoulders tightened, and his eyes searched hers with a mix of concern and something more primal.
"Who is it?" he demanded, his voice low and urgent.
Fiona's breath hitched. "Elijah, I-"
Before she could finish, Elijah closed the distance between them his lips crashing onto hers in a fierce kiss. The contact was electrifying, sending a jolt of heat through Fiona's entire body. She tensed at first, but the force of his kiss quickly melted her resistance.
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Why was it so hard to resist him? They were in the library, and anyone could walk in on them! Why wasn't she stopping him? What was going on with her?
Surprisingly, he pulled away just enough to look into her eyes. "I wanted to kiss you," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "But I need you to tell me what happened while I was gone."
Fiona's mind was in turmoil. She should have resisted, should have fought against the overwhelming attraction. But as Elijah's hands slid from her shoulders to her waist, pulling her closer, her body seemed to betray her. The warmth of his touch, the passion in his kiss- everything made her want to surrender.
She tried to focus, to push back against the feelings coursing through her. "I- I don't know if I can-"
Elijah's fingers caressed her back gently, and Fiona felt her resolve slipping away. The closeness, the intimacy-it was too much. She felt her body relaxing into his embrace, her anger and fear momentarily forgotten.
"Tell me," Elijah urged, his voice rough with emotion. "What happened?"Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.
Fiona looked up at him, her defenses crumbling under his touch. The attraction was too strong, the connection too deep. She felt herself melting against him, her mind overwhelmed by the sensation of his lips on hers and his warmth enveloping her. "I-I'll tell you," she finally whispered, her voice shaky. "Just... just hold me for a moment."
Elijah's expression softened, and he nodded, pressing his forehead against hers. "I didn't mean to drag you into this life," he said. And for the first time, she heard something in his voice she didn't recognize. "There was no other choice." "What are you saying?" she asked. He had a choice. He had a choice to find another woman to marry, to not save her from
that hell, to stay away from her. He had a choice. Instead, he chose her.
However, instead of giving her an answer, he said, "Sit. Let me tell you what my father said."
"So, he agreed to let me stay with you, but I have to work as your personal healer during the Rite of Kings?" Fiona asked. She stared at Elijah, her eyes full of questions. "You're not allowed to announce anything yet?"
"He only allowed me to announce this union once I win the Rite Elijah was now calmly sitting across from her. After their little 'encounter' in the library, Elijah had taken her back to his castle, and they were currently in his study.
"To Carissa and the rest, the King-my father-did not want me to marry you," Elijah added.
"He is... he is going to help us?" Fiona asked. Elijah had clearly told her that the King wasn't aware of their contract. Meaning, the King only knew that Elijah wanted to marry her even though she had been married before. "He doesn't care that I was once a married woman?" she asked, confused.
Why would the King allow Elijah to marry someone like her?