Bride of the Traitor (The Prophecy of Sisters #1) - Hayley Faiman Page 0,128
I grunt.
“Merek,” she whimpers.
Yes. I do not know how much longer I can wait to have her. I have been imagining having her to myself for months. Now that it is possible, now that she has agreed, I do not want to waste another moment.
Taking a step toward her, I reach out and wrap my hand around her waist, tugging her against my chest. Lifting my other hand, I cup her cheek, my thumb sliding along her plump lips.
“Let us not waste a moment of our lives, my joy. Ellyn has been taken from us, Elias’ love and memory have been taken from him, I do not want to waste even a second.”
Katrina’s eyes widen and I watch as her sweet tongue peeks out and she tastes her lips, wetting them before she nods.
“Yes,” she agrees.
Grinning, I’m not sure she realized that she didn’t have a choice, but it is sweet that she agrees. Releasing her, I grab her hand with mine and tug her toward the small chapel at the side of the castle.
Pushing the door open, I look around for the priest and see him kneeling in front of the altar, praying to the many statues of the gods in front of him. Immediately, he stands, turning to face me, his eyes wide and terrified looking.
“Please, do not hurt me,” he whimpers.
Smirking, I shake my head. “King Elias of Bunafi has taken over this castle, and the entire ruling area of Llyne. I am his first in command and his blood relative. No harm will come to the people of Llyne, as long as they pledge their loyalty to King Elias and his throne,” I say, my voice rumbling throughout the small stone chapel.
The priest shakes his head, his lips parted, his eyes staying wide. His gaze shifts to Katrina, then back to me. I watch as he lowers to his knee, bowing his head and letting out a shaky exhale.
“I vow that if he is fair and honest, a righteous king, that my loyalty will fully and completely belong to King Elias,” he says.
I like this man, he does not want to agree to something that he cannot fulfill, because he knows as well as I or anyone else on this earth that if he vows his loyalty, the gods will not allow him inside of their gracious embrace if he breaks that vow.
Dipping my chin, I tell the man to rise. He does so, still looking quite unnerved. “King Elias will not disappoint you, sir. And as the leader on his behalf, I will do my best not to disappoint you as well.”
The priest’s eyes focus on mine, searching me for deceit, and when he doesn’t find any, he nods. “We would like for you to marry us this day,” I state.
He jerks, his eyes shifting from me to Katrina. “Is this what you wish as well, child?” he asks.
KATRINA
The priest asks me if I wish, to marry this man standing next to me. Could I wish for anything more, anything else, in my entire life? No, I could not for this is a dream come true not only for me, but also for a woman like me, a woman with no royal blood or proper standing in society.
“Yes, this is everything that I could wish for, and more.”
The priest clears his throat and it is just moments later that he declares us married. Merek leans down, his lips touching mine in a soft, sweet kiss. He lifts his head, his eyes searching mine as his lips turn up into a small smile.
“I love you, wife,” he rasps.
I have loved him since my eyes landed on him months ago. Though, looking into those pretty green eyes, I know that it wasn’t love, it was merely lust. Watching him with Sybilla, seeing him take care of her, then guide Elias to her and watching his devotion to the king, that was what made me fall in love with him.
“I love you, husband, so much,” I breathe. “Tomorrow I will love you even more.”
His lips turn up into a smirk. “Yes, my joy, you will.”
Without another word, he bends slightly, shoves his shoulder in my belly and throws me over his shoulder like a sack of grain. I let out a squeal of excitement and trepidation knowing what is coming next.
I hear the laughter, the cheers, and the gasps as we approach the castle. Lifting my head, my eyes find Jasmine’s and she’s smiling as she holds her