James was absolutely, positively livid. How a brother could even want to do that to his sister he had no idea, but he knew if that... that... He growls, eyes blazing. No one got away with hurting his sister or fiancé and that was that.
If he even tried anything and James found out, he would die no questions asked.
Sofia pushes against his chest lightly, and only then does he realize his hold was too tight on her and he loosens it, still keeping her close. There was no way he was letting Jonnathan anywhere near her ever again. It didn't matter that they would be brother-in-laws. He didn't count them as that.
Jonnathan, to him, was worth less than dirt. Actually, that seemed to suit him. Or maybe a little worm, something everyone hated. Yes, that was it. Jonnathan was a worm speared on a thorn and lodged in their sides. That wouldn't last much longer, though, if James had anything to say about it.
He's pulled from his thoughts by sobbing and small, gasp-like hiccups for air from Sofia, and he frowns in response. "Sof?" he asks softly, touching her cheek and drawing her face up gently so their eyes meet. "Are you okay?"
She hugs her arms to her, turning her head from his hand and looking away with that action. "I-I understand, i-i-if you don't w-want to marry me a-a-anymo-ore," she says, struggling through the sobs that choke her voice.
His frown deepens and he takes her chin gently in his hand, drawing her eyes back to his once more. "Sofia, I'm not mad at you. You couldn't stop it. I'm mad at Jonnathan for doing what he did to you," he explains softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face with a reassuring smile, even though inside he's still seething. "And now I'm more determined than ever to save Amber, and to make sure he can't hurt anyone ever again."
Sofia frowns slightly, not that she had been smiling before, looking a little... was it worried? "Wh-what are you going to d-do to him?" she asks. Yes, it was definitely worried.
He's silent a moment as he fully considers her question. "Well first, we're getting Amber out of this castle. And then it all depends on if anything happened or not. I can't guarantee anything if he hurts you again, though." He hadn't meant to worry her, and he didn't want to upset her, but there was no other way to answer the question.
"Y-you wouldn't... kill him, would you?" Sofia asks softly, her eyes searching his.
James frowns in thought, then decides it's best not to answer her. He would kill Jonnathan if he had hurt Amber enough, if he hurt Sofia again, or if there was no other way to get everyone home safely. If any of those things happened, there wouldn't be another option for him.
Sofia starts crying again, pulling away from him. "P-p-promise me you won't," she begs in a whisper.
"I can't, Sofia," he says gently. "I'll protect you whatever it takes."
"He's my brother, James!" she cries, and the look on her face just about breaks his heart. "I don't care what he did, he's still family, and family does not kill family."
He looks down slightly, watching her twist the ring on her finger and praying she doesn't take it off. That would be the final straw in his heart breaking, the one that breaks the camel's back as the saying goes. The look on her face was bad enough... What would he do if she broke off their engagement because he just wanted to protect her and everyone else from the monster that was her brother?
"S-Sof, I-I-"
"No, James," she says firmly, cutting him off. "We're done talking about this. I'm going to deal with my brother, and you're going to take Amber home. That's final."
He looks up. "But Sof-"
"No buts!" she orders. "I'm going to bed. We'll try to find Amber in the morning and you're not going to object when I talk to Jonnathan without you."
Before he can say anything else, she's gone back to her given room and slammed the door.
"I'm sorry," he chokes out, a tear running free.
What have I done?
A/N: So super sorry I haven't updated this yet everyone. I meant to back at the end of April but life threw a crap ton of lemons at me and I've only just now made a dent in turning them to lemonade. Because it took sooooo long, I've decided to post two or maybe three chapters with this update. As always, please read & review because all your comments keep me motivated to write this story.
