I sat on the edge of my bed, staring out the window into the night. The events of the day felt like a nightmare, a series of vivid flashes I couldn't shake. I had killed a man in cold blood that morning. By nightfall, another had nearly taken my life. And in the end, it was Tristan-my husband, the man I was supposed to fear-who had saved me.
The weight of my reality pressed down on me, and yet, there was something else stirring beneath the surface. It was as though I had been drowning since the day I married Tristan, submerged in a world I didn't understand. Now, after today's events, I had broken the surface, gasping for air-but that air was sharp, filled with danger, and tinged with something darker.
Tristan had brought me back to the mansion without a word, his grip firm on my hand as we walked through the grand entryway. The tension between us was thick, unspoken but undeniable. He had saved me, yes, but what did that mean? Had it been an act of duty? Of possession? Or something more?
My thoughts were interrupted by the soft creak of the door opening. Tristan stood in the doorway, his face a mask of unreadable emotion. He stepped inside, closing the door behind him, his gaze never leaving me.
"You should be resting," he said, his voice low and controlled, though there was an edge to it.
I met his gaze, my heart pounding. "I can't rest. Not after what happened."
Tristan remained silent for a moment, then crossed the room, stopping a few feet from me. His presence was overwhelming, filling the space between us with unspoken words, unacknowledged feelings.
"What happened today..." He paused, his eyes darkening. "It was a mistake. You should never have been put in that situation."
"Who were they?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why did they want to kill me?"
Tristan's jaw tightened, his hands clenching at his sides. "There are factions within my family -people who don't agree with our marriage, who think it makes us vulnerable. They believe it's a weakness."
I felt a chill run down my spine. "So, what happens now? Are they going to keep coming after me?"
Tristan's eyes flashed with something dangerous. "No. I've already taken care of it."
The way he said it, so calm, so final, sent a shiver through me. I didn't need to ask what he meant. In this world, problems were dealt with in blood.
"You're not safe here," he continued, his voice firm. "Not until I know for sure that everyone who's threatened you has been dealt with."
My pulse quickened. "Where am I supposed to go?"
Tristan's gaze softened, just a fraction. "You'll stay close to me. Wherever I am, you'll be. That's the only way I can keep you safe."
I swallowed hard, the weight of his words settling over me. I had already seen how far Tristan was willing to go to protect what was his, and now I understood that I had become part of that. Whether I wanted it or not, my survival depended on him.
"Is this what marriage means to you?" I asked, my voice quiet but steady. "Control? Ownership?"
Tristan's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't respond right away. Instead, he moved closer, his presence almost suffocating as he stood before me, looking down with that same intense gaze.
"This marriage," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "was never going to be about love, Selena. You knew that. You knew what you were getting into."
I searched his eyes, trying to find something, anything that would help me make sense of the chaos swirling inside me. But all I saw was darkness-his darkness. And now, it was mine too.
I closed my eyes, exhaling slowly, and nodded. "Fine," I whispered. "I'll follow your rules. But don't expect me to be like the others. I'm not some obedient wife."
Tristan's lips quirked into a shadow of a smile. "I never expected you to be."
He pulled back, stepping away from me, the tension between us slowly easing. "Get some rest," he said, his voice once again cool and controlled. "Tomorrow, you'll learn more about what it means to be a Romano."
I watched as he left the room, my mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. I had just made a pact with the devil, and now, there was no turning back. Whatever came next, I would face it with my head held high.
But deep down, I knew that this was only the beginning.
OKAYYYYY.....to be continued.... loviessssss ❤️