Page 29 of Eternal

“Would you like some help?” His hands lift to finish where she left off on my buttons.

I take a step away from his hands, “No, I can manage, thank you.” I say through gritted teeth. I don’t know why I don’t want him to touch me right now, but I’m desperate to stay out of his reach. Perhaps it’s just the tension that crackles through the air, or maybe it’s because Iknowwhat comes next after the wedding. I reach to undo the buttons along my back, our eyes never leaving each other. I let out a soft curse when it proves more difficult than I imagined.

He gives me a lopsided grin, “Are you sure you don’t want my help?”

I sigh, frustrated, throwing my arms back to my side. I raise an eyebrow at him to say don’t try anything. He takes another step towards me, starting again. His knuckles brushing my spine with each button being undone. He’s moving painfully slow and on purpose, watching my reaction in the mirror.

Thank god for the long sleeves to cover the goosebumps.

His fingers hover over the last button, the one right above my ass. I let out a deep breath as he undoes it. I try to move to grab my reception outfit, but the top of his hand brushes along my spine, causing my whole body to seize up. It’s like my body is coming alive at the gentle caress. He’s taking all of me in and enjoying every moment of it. My breath quickens as my mind begins to race.

Is he going to fuck me right here? Right now?

“You’re so fucking beautiful, Freya. And you’re mine.” He possessively wraps the same hand running up my spine around my throat. The other hand is around my waist. My head tilts up to look him in the eye, breath hitching when our eyes connect. I’malmostafraid of him when he grabs my throat in this manner. It reminds me too much of Tristan when he would choke me to the brink of death.

He must have noticed me tensing because almost immediately he takes a step back and releases me.

“Who the fuck hurt you?” His voice drips with venom, anger rolling off him in waves. “I need his name.”

My eyes drop as tears start to well up and I shake my head. It’s not that I am trying to protect Tristan, I definitely wish he were dead. I had just decided a long time ago that I want to be the one to end his life. I want to be the last person he looks at as he takes his last breath. As if I don’t already have too many other things to worry about. I don’t need this conversation on top of it all.How am I going to tell him?

I gnaw on the inside of my cheek as Soren steps forward and embraces me once again, his arms wrapped protectively around me.

“There’s no need to cry. No one will ever hurt you again. You’re safe with me.” He presses a kiss on the top of my head.

I wrap my arms around his midsection, melting in his warm hug. There’s something endearing about hearing him say I’m safe with him and the way he feels the need to comfort me. It makes it all seem more… real.Like our marriage is real.And deep down, I know he won’t hurt me. But I still love to hear him whisper reassurances into my ear.

Soren and I release each other, and I move towards the white satin jumpsuit hanging up on a hook next to the mirror. I step out of my wedding dress standing half-naked in front of Soren. He clears his throat and turns around, staring at everything except me. It’s awkward, but he respects my boundaries. Kinda.

I pull the jumpsuit most of the way on before I realize I need help zipping it. I turn to Soren, who is carefully trying to rearrange a slight bulge in his pants before I notice. I chuckle softly at the act.

“Soren, I need help,” I whisper.

His eyes snap to my face, looking at me like a deer caught in headlights when he hears his name. Without acknowledging what he was doing, he comes and zips me up, taking his time as his hands hover over my ass up to the middle of my back. As he does that, I pull an unnecessary amount of pins from my hair. I had wanted my hair down for the wedding, but since when did anyone consider whatIwant?

He watches me silently, “I like it better when you wear your hair down.” He whispered the phrase so softly as he reached for a lock of hair and pinched it between his thumb and first two fingers. His head bends to place a gentle kiss at the end of the lock.

I stay frozen in place. My heart melts at the softness he is showing me. There’s something so tender about his kiss that I almost tell him to sweep me away for the rest of our lives, away from the mess, doanythingelse, just him and me.

I blink hard and continue getting ready; not much more left. When I’m finished, I turn around and we are chest to chest. I reach my hand up, brushing off one of the stray hairs that had gotten on his blazer. My eyes flicked up to meet his.

"I have something to tell you that won't be easy to hear."

Soren's hand grips my elbow, keeping me plastered to him, eyebrows furrowing.

"What is it?"

I take a deep breath. "Luca and my father came to visit before the wedding, and told me we have to have a child within two years or Luca will kill Serena and Abe. He also said he'll take it into his own hands."

"Like he'll fucking rape you?" Soren seethes, releasing me and taking a step back.

"I don't know, but it seems that way." I knot my hands in front of me, looking down to the ground then back at him.

He squeezes his eyes shut, but when they open cruel violence swirls in them, darkened to a storm grey. "I'm going to fucking kill him."

"Soren, wait!" I rush after him as he takes large steps to the door.

"Luca! Where the fuck are you?" Soren is racing down the stairs, and guests have hushed down to a low whispered crowd. No one knows this is fake. Our marriage is forced.

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