Part 26

4 months later

"Lady de Martel? Is there anything you need?"

It took a moment before Dafne realized that the maid was talking to her. This was the first time when anyone had called her Lady de Martel. It sounded nothing but foreign to her. Slowly she lifted her hand and looked at the ring. She was actually someone's wife now. How had this happened? How had she let things go so far?

She could have said no. Sure she could have, but she would have also lost all her chances for freedom. Tristan had kept his promise and removed the mark, but unlike Dafne had hoped, that hadn't been the only thing she had needed in order to escape. She was still surrounded by Tristan's guards, Aurora and plenty of other members of the Strix.

She had hoped to find a way to escape before the wedding, but she had failed. Now she and Tristan were married. That wasn't something she had planned, but maybe this would be the chance she had been looking for. So far Tristan had kept all his promises and he had promised to make her a wealthy and powerful woman when she would be his wife. Now she was.

"No, thank you," she replied to the maid who curtsied before leaving Dafne's bedchamber.

Dafne poured herself a glass of wine and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair was down and she was wearing a white silk nightgown. Not that she was some blushing virgin bride, but it had been a very long time since she had been with a man. With Lucien. She missed him and his safe and familiar touch. It had been very different than Elijah's, but that had been one of the reasons why she had enjoyed it so much. He had helped her to forget her old life. Tonight she would start another new life, at least for now. A knock on the door made her to empty her glass quickly.

"Come in."

The door opened and Tristan entered the room. Dafne placed her glass on the dressing table and turned to look at him. He stared at her for a moment before speaking.

"Dafne… You look beautiful."

"Thank you," she replied.

She hoped that the dim candlelight would hide her nervousness, but it didn't. Tristan walked over to her and cupped her face.

"You are nervous," he stated.

"Yes," she replied simply. She didn't feel like lying or pretending anything right now.

He smiled and caressed her cheeks with his thumbs.

"Oh, Dafne… You have no reason to be nervous, I promise you. I wouldn't hurt you."

Maybe that was true, but they both knew that he was aware of the fact that she wouldn't have chosen this under different circumstances. Things could have been worse she supposed and in the end she had chosen this. He hadn't forced her, physically or otherwise.

"Do you think that maybe I could have a smile from my wife on our wedding day?" he hummed. "Or haven't I earned it yet?"

"I don't know," Dafne replied truthfully.

"Ah. Let's see what we can do about that."

He walked over to the window and moved the curtain.

"Come, my love. I have something to show you."

Dafne joined him and looked outside. She couldn't help but gasp as she saw the most breathtaking horse she had ever laid eyes on. The horse was golden colored with a snow white mane and tail.

"What do you think?" Tristan asked. "Do you like her?"

"She… She's magnificent," Dafne managed to reply.

Tristan smiled.

"I'm glad to hear that. She is all yours, my love. A modest gift for my beautiful wife."

Dafne looked at the horse for a moment before looking at Tristan.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," he replied and kissed her hand. "I want to make you happy, Dafne. I want to earn your affection." He paused and touched her cheek. "I want to give you the world."

She shook her head.

"I've never wanted the world. Just a little corner to call my own."

He looked at her curiously.

"I can give you that."

"Can you? Or do you just want to own me?"

"I don't," he assured. "Will you gave me a chance to prove that?"

She looked at him, suddenly finding herself hoping that he actually meant what he said. During her long life, no one had ever really put her needs first. Not that she believed that he would do that either, but for a very brief moment she hoped that he would. All she wanted was to be free and have her own little safe haven. Were those things really too much to ask?

"As I said, you are one of the most powerful women in the world now," he continued. "You can have anything you want. "

"And what if I would want to leave?" she asked quietly.

"Well… You are my wife, not my prisoner," he replied. "I have no intention to chain you up, but I am asking you to give me a chance to show you that I can make you happy."

She was quiet for a while, thinking about his words. Sure she could leave and enjoy her freedom until someone would take it from her again. The truth was that she was sick of being pushed around. If Tristan could really offer her power… The thought felt very strange, but not unpleasant.

"I want your word that you'll never force me into anything," she heard herself saying. "That you will treat me as your equal."

"You have my word," he replied and kissed her hand. "You deserve nothing less."

She nodded.

"Then I suppose I will give you a chance."

He smiled and touched her hair.

"Thank you. Now… May I show you how much I adore you?"

She tensed.

"It has been a long while," she murmured.

He nodded.

"I understand and I will be very gentle, I promise. Or then we can wait. Your choice, my love."

"My choice?"

He smiled.

"I just gave you my word that I will never force you into anything," he pointed out. "I can wait."

She looked at him, unsure of what to think. She had thought that he was just as selfish as most men, but maybe she had been wrong. Maybe there was a small chance that this could actually work. Or not. Either way, she had agreed to give him a chance and that was what she was going to do.