Page 56 of Captured By The Alien Barbarian
“Find the bathing chamber through there,” he says, pointing at a doorway. “And you can borrow a clean dress in the master bedroom for now. Just wait for me there until I’ve wrapped things up with the other hunters.”
With that, Walter is already making to leave the room, leaving me to patch myself up and ponder my new reality as his “wife.”
My jaw hits the floor. “We are not married! And given your appalling behavior, that’s a good thing!”
My shout echoes around the rooms, bouncing off the walls.
Walter’s steps slow until he’s standing still. He turns toward me slowly, his body moving stiffly.
My heart picks up at seeing the heavy scowl on his face and the thunderstorm swirling in his eyes. His lips are pinched together in one hard, white line.
“You can throw a hissy fit all day long, but we are married,” Walter says slowly, pronouncing each word as if he were talking to a child. “Our matrimony has already been sanctioned with the local council and the paperwork was sent to the spaceship weeks ago.”
He looks me in the eye, and his expression is not one of a poor joke taken too far. He’s completely serious. A sinking feeling grips me.
“That can’t be,” I say. “I never consented to this madness. I haven’t signed anything!”
“I just need you to look the part, sweetheart. Keep up appearances. Even for you, that shouldn’t be too hard to do.” Walter accentuates my attire with a sweeping gesture.
My head feels faint. Does he really have my whole life planned out? Did he ever once consider asking for my opinion? Why does every male have the audacity to think they know what’s best for you?
“I’ll just tell the council what you’ve done. They’ll fix everything.”
Walter just sighs, like I am some child that’s testing his patience. “And who are they going to believe, huh? Me, the upstanding gentleman known throughout the town, or the poor girl that’s clearly struggling after being held captive by beasts?”
I look at him incredulously. Seriously, who does this guy think he is?
“You can’t do this!” I say. “There are laws, Walter! You can’t just treat me like this. The council will be forced to investigate. You can’t worm your way out of this.”
Walter releases an eerie, lifeless laugh. “Do you even hear yourself? The council won’t help you. My family has them wrapped around our little fingers. They’re in debt to us. Each and every one of them owes my family money. How do you think they even got to become council members in the first place?”
No. I refuse to believe it. There are systems set in place to stop corruption. Besides, none of them will force a woman to marry someone against her will. They won’t go that far.
I’ll go straight away and report this. Get it sorted. Then I’ll go home, regroup, and figure out what to do from there.
I stride across the room, intending to nudge him out of my way. I don’t deign to give him another glance. And boy, do I pay the price. Unprepared for the blow, I grunt when it lands on my back, propelling me into the unforgiving wall. My cheek and chin collide with the unyielding wood. Before I get the chance to conjure up a snarky complaint, his iron grip fastens around my arm. With brute force, he yanks me backward, launching me across the room.
“Ariana, you will learn to be a good wife,” Walter says as he looms over me, his eyes as cold as his heart.
“You—you hit me!” I say, stunned. Never in my wildest dreams do I anticipate him getting violent. Trembling, my fingers graze my throbbing cheek. “You can’t do that!”
Walter’s lips slowly curve. Smiling is an entirely human emotion. Yet somehow this feels even more terrifying than one of Taccit’s smiles.
Before I can scamper to safety, his booted foot connects with my side, its impact sharp and agonizing. I howl in response.
Cradling my ribs, I gasp for breath, pain searing my body. It hurts. Oh God, it hurts so bad. Who would have thought being kicked feels like waltzing face-first into a cactus?
Walter yanks my head up by my hair, bringing his face uncomfortably close to mine. His fetid breath is hot against my cheek. A malicious grin spreads across his face.
“That little love bite was merely an appetizer, Ariana. Defy me, and you’ll discover my bites pack a far more vicious punch. You’d be amazed at how much damage long sleeves and skirts can conceal.”
The room spins around me.
Peering down his nose, he snorts in derision. “Did you honestly think I’d want to marry someone as unattractive as you? The only appealing thing about you is your inheritance. So just remember, in the grand scheme of things, you’re utterly insignificant. Don’t ever forget your place, and definitely don’t disobey me.”
Yet, despite everything, I am not afraid of Walter. Sure, he might be intimidating, but he’s no match for my alien. Maybe it’s the knocks around the head that finally make it clear—Taccit is mine.
Almost involuntarily, the words tumble out of my mouth, “Taccit will come for me. He’ll rescue me. He’s not going to abandon me.”
