Junia's POV.
"You shouldn't have put her to sleep." A female voice sounded like she was scolding someone.
"She would have made it difficult to get out of there." A male voice replied.
I felt a hand touch my neck.
"You are so stubborn, Draven."
"She had been asleep for three days and nights, no sign of her waking up soon."
"Try again, she might wake up." The male voice now sounded familiar. I had heard it before.
"I will, but…"
"Just do it, Ignara."
My eyes snapped open. I looked around the room before sitting up on the bed. No one was in the room except me.
Where am I?
Then everything came rushing back in—Solric's death. Fire. Smoke. Screams.
And Ashmaris.
I stepped down from the bed and ran to the door. I tried to open it—it was locked. I glanced around the room and saw an open balcony window. I walked to the balcony and inspected it. When I looked down, I gasped. I couldn't see anything but clouds.
I heard the door open. I quickly hid behind the balcony window, which was tall and large as a door.
The person at the door stepped into the room. I didn't hear anything until the balcony window was pulled away from me.
Revealing a tall, white-headed woman. "There you are. I had thought you wouldn't wake up any time soon," she beamed. I frowned, punched her in the nose, and dashed towards the door, but I didn't make it before she caught me.
"Let me go!" I hissed. I just want to go away from here.
"Even if I let you go, you won't make it out of here before he catches you." The woman's words stopped me.
He.
The bastard who had killed my husband and destroyed my home.
"Who are you?" I asked when she let me out of her hold.
"I am Ignara, Draven's sister." She smiled. I took in her look. Her dress was layered silk, with a red bodice that faded to ash black. The neckline was high—weird fashion she has.
"Who is Draven?" I questioned, looking her in the eyes.
"Ashmaris," she answered.
So she is his sister. I should give her a taste of his own medicine. My eyes fell on saxifrage flowers on a piece of rock crevice in the corner of the room.
I smirked.
Their stems snapped tight, not loud enough for me to know they answered to me. I felt the pull in my hands and my ribs.
I pushed my hands forward. The stems moved fast but too slow. She noticed and moved away—fast.
"I like you already," she smirked. She was now on the bed, in a defensive stance. Her icy blue pupils split vertically like a serpent's before returning to normal.
I tried to attack again, but I suddenly felt dizzy and fell to the ground. She rushed towards me and helped me back to the bed.
"You know, my brother was right about you," she chuckled softly. "If you are not weak right now, or if your shadow isn't constricted, you would take me down easily." Her eyes fell on my bracelet.
"Where am I?" I ignored what she had said. All I was thinking of was how to get out of here.
"The Dragonhold," she replied to me. "I already informed my brother that you are awake. He should be here any time soon." She stepped away from the bed. How did she inform him? So soon.
Almost two seconds later, the door opened and Ashmaris walked in.
He was dressed in a majestical attire too—dark and brooding. His hair still fell around his shoulders.
"Ah, we were just talking about you," Ignara smiled. "Make sure you rest well, Junia. You are still weak right now." She turned to me, which sounded more like a warning than advice. She knew I would try to attack Ashmaris.
Even if I didn't do it now, I would be sure to do it later.
"Don't stress her," she told her brother before walking out of the room. He hadn't uttered a word since he came in, just stared at me.
When he stepped closer to the bed, I sat upright, looking away. My teeth were gnashed together.
"How are you feeling?" he spoke, his voice calm and low.
I scoffed. "Like killing you."
"Rest well. In three days, I will present you as my bride and mate to my court." he said and turned to leave.
So that was it. He killed my husband, nearly killed my father, destroyed my home—and wants to marry me. My father was right; they are unruly.
"So that is it. You killed my husband and stole me from my home," I gritted out. My chest tightened from the pain of being unable to fight back.
"I took you out from a trap that would eventually ruin you," he answered. He sounded too right and sure.
"You don't know anything about my father and home," I spat at him. I tried to stand up but couldn't move. "You know nothing."
I tried again but almost fell down. Ashmaris moved fast and steadied me. His hands and body felt warm—too warm—that my heartbeat fastened on its own.
My breath hitched when he pushed my hair out of my face. "Can you feel it?" He asked quietly.
My eyes met his. For a moment, I forgot what he had done. Something was pulling me to him, a feeling I had never felt.
"Feel what?" I questioned. He pulled away from me.
"Bond."
"You are crazy. First I am your betrothed, now bond? What bond?" I hissed. "You took me away from where I mattered, destroyed it, and you ask me if I feel something?"
"Yes," he answered.
I scoffed. "I wish I could kill you right now."
"And I would only die by your hands," he said like it was a normal thing to say. "But you won't be able to do it, Junia."
"You are insane."
"Your father had done a lot—sealed your real self and broken a pact." He walked towards the door. "Even if you had married Solric, you are just a pawn in the same game that had been played before."
What is he talking about?
"Where are you going?" I asked softly. I was supposed to be furious at him. Why did my heart drop at the thought of him leaving?
"I have duties to attend to. Ignara will tend to your needs." With that, he turned to walk away.
"We haven't finished talking," I yelled, but he kept moving. "Don't you dare walk away from me, you monster," I shouted. For a moment, he paused, then walked away.