Page 20 of Theirs to Possess: The Marriage Claim
And since Margaux has already told me aboutScandalicious,I decide not to look. I’m sure that it’s worse than I can imagine, and I’m sure that seeing it for myself will only make the rest of the night worse.
Back in front of the bathroom vanity, I stare at my reflection. The woman looking back at me is a stranger—someone’s daughter, someone’s wife, someone’s possession.
After squeezing my eyes shut for a moment, willing this all to go away, I adjust one of the pins in my hair. Unfortunately, that only seems to make things worse.
When I exit the bathroom, Brennan is waiting for me. He hasn’t moved an inch.
“Isla.”
His voice is soft, but in a deep, rich, haunting baritone, sending a little, unexpected skitter up my spine.
“Ready to go back?”
Not ever. But I can’t say that to him, can I?
He’s at my side as we return to the anteroom where cocktails are still being served.
Face in a scowl, my father strides toward me. “A word, please, Isla.”
With a polite nod, Brennan moves away.
“Where the hell did you vanish to earlier?”
I frown.None of your business.
“We had a receiving line planned.” His voice is a terrible snarl.
He has me cornered near a wall, and his fingers have curled into a fist at his side. His fury simmers just beneath the surface, but he won’t make a scene here. Not with these people watching.
“I went where my husband decided I needed to go.”
“You’re an embarrassment to this family.”
My pulse accelerates, and heat flashes through me, a mixture of humiliation and anger. To him, that’s the worst insult he can hurl my way.
“Did you fuck him?”
Suddenly fury wins. If it wasn’t for him, none of this would be happening. “What if I did?” I challenge, my voice stronger than I thought possible. “This was your idea, remember? And he wanted the wedding to look legit so he can spin it. If you’re embarrassed by how I look, you should have thought that through before you fed me to a big, bad wolf.”
A slow clap echoes behind me.
I spin around.
Dorian.
“Well done, little one.”
His approval sends a shiver down my spine.
Brennan is at his side. Obviously the man sensed that my father was a threat and went to fetch Dorian.
My husband uses his powerful body to force the judge back. Then he pulls me away from the wall and stands at my side. His presence is both threatening and protective.
Brennan moves in a little, mimicking Dorian’s play.
Then my husband levels a lethal glare at my father. When he speaks, all the charm is gone from Dorian’s voice. “You and I will be meeting after the father/daughter dance.”
William bristles, but Dorian tilts his head toward me. “If she agrees to one, of course. But frankly, I wouldn’t blame her if she refused to speak to you again. And that would be rather unfortunate.For you.”
