The sight of people is almost dizzying.

Will's hand is the only thing keeping me anchored to the ground as we move through the crowd of people to see us. I forget that I'm supposed to be happy. I forget that I'm supposed to make Will look good, but its overwhelming and unsettling. He murmurs something in my ear about discussing business and exchanging news with a close trade partner, but all I can feel is his hand leaving mine and I am lost. There are nail marks in my wrist where he dug his nails into my skin, whether it was to try and keep my hand in his or to remind me to be obedient.

Pushing through the crowd and trying not to trip on the absurdly adorned suits that the young children are wearing, I slam into someone's side, tripping over my dress. Managing to catch myself, I flush with embarrassment.

"Are you alright, Theresa?" A familiar voice says. I look up a the person I have so rudely barreled into and I smile softly.

"Cecily? Congratulations on your marriage." I say. Cecily smiles in response, looping her arm around a tall, young man with sandy hair and green eyes. I immediately assume he is Gabriel Lightwood, her husband, but he is talking to another man his age that I cannot see his face in full detail. "How is married life treating you?"

"All is well, all is well." Cecily chirps, her eyes bright. But then she frowns slightly, glancing over at her brother who is barely visible in the crowd. "How is Will...treating you? He is being kind, right?"

I feel like I should tell her, but I don't. I just wipe off imaginary crumbs from my hands and nod my head. "It's fine. It's...different."

Her shoulders relax and she sighs in relief. "Oh, I'm glad to hear that. He sort of went 'round the bend after Ella was killed. I love him still, but I was fearful of how he would turn out."

"Oh, that bloody bastard." Gabriel scowls when he finally diverts his attention towards us, his green eyes murderous and full of hate. His face is so angular, it looks sharp, but elegant. "I've never liked him, before or after such events." Cecily just puts her hand over his, shaking her head slowly. He softens hesitantly, but gradually, a small expression of adoration for Cecily on his face.

"I know, I know. I don't blame you either." She pushes herself up, pecking him on the cheek.

I feel almost jealous that I don't have what she has.

Will is nothing like him and is not nearly as gentle.

I don't have to ask why Gabriel doesn't like Will.

"Good luck." Gabriel mutters stiffly, his expression not one of hatred, but his tone edged with caution. Cecily seems to understand his discomfort, touching me lightly on my arm before pulling him back into the crowd and towards Gideon and Sophie. I want to follow them and speak to Sophie and reminisce in old times about our shared memories, but I feel like the odd one out.

They all have someone whereas I have nobody.

Fingers wrap around my arm and I look up sharply, staring at Will's blank, blue eyes. In his hand, he has a glass with champagne, tapping it gently and silencing everyone. I hang off his arm like I'm supposed to, acting content when I know I am not. Will knows it too, but he ignores it. He doesn't care. "I would like to propose a toast to my engagement to Miss Tessa Gray. Normally, my father would be here to give the first toast, but seeing as he is busy," his tone cracks a little, "protecting our city, he couldn't make it." His words are flat and he knows it as well. There is no emotion, nothing even hinting that he could care about me or any of this engagement party except for his own image. "To the Aristocrats, our marriage, and many more years."

There is a wave of congratulatory voices that come after the toast, glasses being lowered, and people shaking his hand. The crowd of people his too much, they're closing in. I can feel myself shaking. Without thinking, I hold up my dress, running to the heavy doors and throwing them open. The cold air hits me hard, but it helps me fight the lightheaded and queasy knot in my stomach.

Leaning over the railing, I just stand there and breath, calmed by the brisk breeze and open patio. In the distance, I can see the London buildings below me, sparkling and flickering pitifully in the dark. I wonder if Jem can see the lights too.

"People are wondering where you are." Will says, coming up behind me. He has something clutched in his hand, but he doesn't give it to me. Not yet.

I look over at him. "Really?"

"No."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Can you just not be a hard headed idiot for a while?"

"I'm the hard headed idiot? You're always so icy about everything."

"You're absolutely insane. You're psychotic and maniacal and sadistic." I snap angrily, turning my body towards him.

"Someone ever tell you that your mouth needs a filter to your brain? Hah. Never mind, you probably don't have any connections between your mouth and your brain anyway."

"Let me go." I want to leave but he's blocking my way. When I go to push him, he catches my hand, opening his fist and sliding a ring onto my left ring finger. I jerk my hand back. "I don't want your jewels or riches-"

"It's not for you." He says softly, but his eyes blaze with intensity. "It's for me and everyone else to see that you're mine. Like...a dog collar of sorts."

I take a stuttering breath when he presses me to the railing, one hand rising and tangling in my hair. I hate him, I know, but I stay still as he holds my waist, looking at me with dark eyes. There is anger in his eyes, but it is muted, and something else clouds them completely. I can feel his hand travel downwards, passing between the slit in the dress and onto my bare skin.

There is some kind of pressure in my stomach like an ache; it's not painful, but it's...unpleasant, like wanting for something that is just out of reach.

Up close, I can see every one of his eyelashes like dark frames for his eyes, creating shadows down his cheekbones. His breath warms my neck as he looks down at me, purposely making me lean back a little more so I look smaller and more delicate.

A surprised gasp leaves my lips when he grazes his finger across the nape of my neck, leaving shuddering and tingling sensations across my skin. Instinctively, I tilt my head back, looking up at him and trying to stop my hands from quivering.

"Why are you shaking?" He whispers in my ear, his voice low and gravelly.

"I didn't notice." I lie, my gray eyes enormous.

His hand is rising higher and higher under my dress but, this time, I don't stop him as long as he keeps sending small shockwaves of shock through me, weakening my knees. I see his gaze settle on my lips, his mouth parted slightly. My eyes flutter closed for some strange reason; my body betraying what my mind is telling me.

My hair is damp with sweat and sticks to my forehead as he leans forward, about to close the gap between us when he halts to a stop, his eyes glittering with amusement. He pulls away and my back hits the railing, hard, and I just lean against it for a moment trying to make sense of what happened. Will brushes off his suit and takes my wrist roughly. "We need to go back inside."

I nod my head and try to answer, but I am hanging by a thread.

Clinging onto this spider silk strand of hope.

Author's Note: I got a question of when I am updating my Hey, it's the New Girl fanfiction. Don't worry, EmFinch. All in good time, I've gotten a tad bit of overload on that one but I will post another chapter tomorrow.