Chapter One: Betrothed

Terrah Laken sat on her trying to drone out the annoying tone of her step-dad by listening to her iPod.
"All of your computer privileges are going to be taken away if you don't start cleaning up when I tell you to," he said.
"I do clean up," she snapped.
"Stop yelling, I'm right here in your face. You sound stupid."
She rolled her eyes and said, "I'm not yelling and I don't sound stupid. What the hell are you speaking? Gum."
He looked away in shame and left out of the doorway of her room. She knew she'd hit a soft spot then he'd leave her the hell alone. He'd been missing almost all of his teeth since he was twenty five and he'd obviously taken his dentures out to get ready to go to bed. His words all sounded weird and his lips kept going in a bit.
She changed into shorts and a tee-shirt, and then got back into bed. Terrah had only been home for a week and he was already getting on her nerves. Fresh out of her all girls private school and into the real world. She knew what and who was coming for her, had known since she was thirteen years old. She didn't have much longer either, three days in fact.
She turned her iPod all the way up, letting it lead her to somewhere faraway where she didn't have to live in this fucked up world, making her forget everything she had to go through.
She was awaked by the sunlight coming in through her window, its hot rays on her face. She rolled over and peeked through her eyes at her alarm clock. 7:43 a.m. She threw her feet over the edge of her bed and stood up, stretching her muscles.
When she got down to breakfast, her mom was already there sitting at the table waiting for her. Most likely Julian had already left for work like he usually does. Her mom put some food on a plate and slid it across the table to Terrah.
"Any plans today." her mom asked.
"Terrah shook her head, nope, none at all. Wish I did though, then I wouldn't be wallowing in sadness."
Her mom shot her a warning glance. She didn't like to talk about this subject with her. It was over and done, that's all that was needed to know and it wasn't to be brought up again. It would have been good if her parents had told her why all of this was happening, but they'd always change the subject as soon as she said anything about it. In her opinion she deserved to know because nothing was going to happen to them, just her and it was mostly likely because of some stupid shit that they did a long time ago.
Terrah rolled her eyes. "Anyways...do you have anything to do today?"
"Well, I thought that maybe you and I could go shopping for some new clothes and what not since there is going to be a new you."
Terrah slammed her fist down on the table. "There isn't going to be a new me, I'm going to be the same as I've always been, unlike you, I don't let people change me." She seethed. "And I don't need another wardrobe, the clothes I have now are good enough." She grabbed her food and stormed off back upstairs to her room to be alone.
The next two days were going to be her last days of freedom, she didn't want this for herself, she wanted a normal life like everyone else, but no, she has to live this one.
The one where she didn't get to pick the guy she wanted, but one that has already been picked for her.

Two days later…

My mom set about doing my hair into a chignon like I actually needed it, I wasn't trying to impress these people that I was meeting, maybe if I started doing very rude stuff they wouldn't want me anymore and they'd leave me the hell alone, maybe even return me from where I came from.

After she finished with my hair, she removed my dress from its hanger; the damn thing was so white you could probably get blinded by it, she helped me into it without sullying my hair, then I slipped on my ballet flats, pumps and I didn't really agree with each other.

"Where are we supposed to be meeting these people anyway," I asked.

She sighed. "We're not going to go meet them, they are having someone come get you then, you will be attending a ball where you will meet your betrothed and your engagement will be announced.

Yeah, whatever, not that I'm agreeing to any of this shit, her bags were downstairs waiting by the door, she could say that her step dad was happy as hell right now, but what the hell, he didn't like her anyway. She was glad she was getting rid of his ass too. He was being very nice of her today, hell he even cleaned the damn house without bugging her.

"How about a little makeup," her mom asked. Terrah looked at her mom like she grew another head, she was sure her mom knew that she didn't like wearing make-up. "Never mind then."

Terrah sat in the back of the car quietly, the driver wouldn't make any conversation with her, and he looked no older than seventeen. He kept glancing at her in the mirror, but his face was neutral as ever.

"Where are we going exactly," Terrah asked. He only glanced at her in the mirror again then looked forward. Ugh, she was going to be able to handle this if everyone was this quiet. "Are you mute or something?" He elegantly raised an eyebrow. She shrugged her shoulders, "Just asking."

The whole time she sat in the back of the car wondering what this new family of hers was going to be like, her mom had informed her that this guy had his own house therefor his parents wouldn't be around to bug her-which really didn't make a difference because she was going to be alone with some guy that she didn't even know. He could try anything, he may even be psycho. Well, he better be attractive.

She was snapped out of her moment, when someone opened her door and a hand was held out to her.

"You know I don't think this is going to work if you don't start talking, it feels like I'm talking to myself, which is something that I don't really do because it's a bad habit for anyone."

The driver sighed. "I'm to escort you."

"Oh my god, it talked. We should shoot for long sentences and paragraphs though." He rolled his eyes then helped her out of the car. "My stuff will be delivered to this dudes house or something?"

"It's his car, I'm just a friend, so when he goes home, you're leaving with him. Your stuff too."

She had been so caught up in her own world that she hadn't noticed the huge mansion they were currently in front of.

Nice, I'm about to enter a room full of rich snobs, just my fucking luck. The driver held his arm out to her, she entwined it with his.

They were greeted at the doors by two men dressed in black frock coats, slacks and boots.

He led her through many sets of doors before they were met by anyone. Well, I guess you wouldn't call it meet the parents.

The man was at least six foot six, strong set jaw, a straight, narrow nose, broad shoulders, wide chest, shoulder length midnight black hair, silver eyes. The woman was probably about five foot seven, had read curly hair, brown eyes, pointy face.

Hmm…hopefully he got most of his looks from his fathers.

She vaguely heard them talking, she was sure it wasn't all that very important, it's not like she was going to be around them for long.

"-but anyway we decided to have the wedding in a few days because we think it would be best that you and Luca could start early on trying to get along with each other. The sooner you do that, the sooner the two of you can work on begetting an heir."

Terrah froze. "What! You expect me to sleep with this guy?"

"Well, you have to consummate the marriage on the wedding night anyway. There is no way around that. And our son is not the cold; his blood runs red hot like any other man. He will obviously have needs and no affairs will be accepted in this marriage."

Terrah put her hands on her hips, and then snapped, "You don't have to worry about me being in an affair with anyone, you should keep your eye on him though because I won't be very willing. When am I going to meet this guy anyway?"

His mother looked at her pointedly. "You're going to be spending your life with 'this guy' so it's best if you get your attitude straight, my son isn't the type that tolerates this kind of stuff. And he will punish you."

She scoffed. "Punish me? I'm not some kind of child."

The father cut in. "Enough discussing we have to be downstairs in five minutes. All smiles, if anything else, you'll regret it."

Terrah stood there dumbfounded; this is possibly the worst thing that could happen to her. She was getting married into a family that was apparently abusive, this isn't going to work, and she'll escape somehow.

"I dare you to," a deep voice whispered into her ear. She just stood there shocked; apparently they were mind readers too.

"Whatever," she murmured.

"You may want to rethink, since you're talking to your future hubby."

She gasped, and then looked up. She hadn't heard anyone enter the room. She pursed her lips together and narrowed her eyes up at him. "I'm not a play thing now, and you will never turn me into one."

He looked down at her sharply.

Damn was he hot. His features were almost identical to his fathers, but Luca's hair was cut short, his dark bangs falling over his eyes and ears, short on his neck, his molten silver eyes peeking at her from behind his hair.

"Watch yourself," he growled, I'm going to do whatever the hell I want with you and you're just going to sit back and relax." He gave her a once over that made her skin crawl. He jerked her arm into his when the door opened. "Smile," he said between gritted teeth.

Someone began speaking, "Now introducing the new member of the Armendi Family, Miss Terrah Laken.

Welcome to my hell.

Sneak Peek of Chapter Two

"Why can't I sleep in a different room," Terrah asked from the bed.

Luca looked at her annoyed. "Because I said so, now shut up." He began taking off his clothes.

'Oh god,' Terrah though, 'he probably sleeps nude.'

She turned her head to the side so she wouldn't have to look at him. A few seconds later she felt him slide in beside her.

What if he started groping her in the middle of the night? She didn't know anything about this guy; he could do anything to her.

"Hello partner," he whispered into her ear. She shivered. He shouldn't be having this kind of effect on her. If only he would let her into a different room instead of his. It was four days until they got married. Couldn't he have waited till then? But damn, then she would have to sleep with him.

She didn't have any options at all.

Review please. Tell me what you think, be honest. There really wouldn't be a point of writing a story if people don't tell me what they think about it. So it could be the shortest review in the world but please tell me what you think.

A/N: My name is Keyundra, I'm 14 years old, I've been writing for three years. I'm going to the 10th grade. I want to be an editor and writer. I like honest people even the times when they're being totally bitchy.

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