Chapter 3

"What on earth possessed you to act that way to me?" I fumed. My anger was barely controlled. No one had ever done such a thing to me, my father would have had them burnt alive. And that, is exactly what will happen to Adrian Ivashkov. A flicker of malicious pleasure ran through me at the thought of my father's reaction to what he had done. Then guilt took its place. Oh my confession is going to be fun. I internally said to myself with a grimace. Adrian was smirking at me.

"Good day to you too, and did you forget already..." he shook his head in mock disapproval, "...you're my betrothed." Those three words were like a punch in the gut and in all the fights I had witnessed at the royal court I had noticed than a punch in the gut seemed to be agonising. Not as agonising as being punched um... slightly lower, but still painful. Remembering this I felt nauseas. Oh Dimitri my love... my thoughts trickled to the man that owned my heart and soul. With some strength, I pulled my head back to the present.

"Did you have to remind me?" I glared at him.

"Yes," he was laughing.

"What is your problem?" I was so infuriated right now, and the only thing stopping me from blessing my dear fiancée with my first ever punch, was my upbringing. Surprisingly, he stopped laughing.

"I think, my problem is that you are madly in love with my advisor, Dimitri Belikov and my bastard daughter, Tasha Ozera, is completely in love with him." I didn't say anything, I just tried to absorb what I had learned.

"So, my reasons for marrying are: A) money, B) Power in England, C) Jealously D) lust and E) my daughter will have no competition in gaining a successful man who she loves as her husband. Obviously Belikov will not sleep with you now you are too be my wife." I was frozen with shock.

"You, would do all of this, just to stop me marrying my true love." I whispered. I knew it was true, but I needed to hear him say it again.

"True love? Typical, like every girl, the first good looking man that comes along and it's true love! Don't worry my dear," here he winked at me, "after our wedding night, I shall take his place as your true love." The revulsion washed through me and choking back a sob, nothing remained of my normal calm yet haughty exterior. I was broken, traumatised and scared.

Standing up, I tried to regain control of myself, but when I looked Adrian directly in the eyes, I knew he saw my fear. I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. Adrian smirked, and then his hand left its place at its side, and smacked me in the face. The force of the blow knocked me off my feet and I couldn't stop a small scream from escaping me. I was stunned. I had been slapped by the person who would someday soon, swear to honour and protect me. Tears filled my eyes but I tried to restrain them. Picking up my now slightly dusty and squashed green skirt, I fled from the room. As I was running, I heard his loud booming laugh and I couldn't stop a tear from falling down my cheek.

I tried to calm down, I was passing a few people in the corridors I was running through, and my appearance was enough to cause curiosity. Yes, there will definitely be some rumours about me going through this palace now. Forcing myself to slow to a walk was incredibly difficult. The urge to fight or just flee was running strong in my veins, and I had opted for the fleeing option.

No matter what happened from now on, I could not marry the duke. I would not spend the next 40 or so years of my life being bullied and beaten my husband. Elope. A small voice at the back of my head spoke up. A twinge of excitement flew through me. I wanted that. I wanted that so much, just to spend every day with Dimitri, growing old with him, watching our children grow up... I sighed again. This time in defeat. I could never marry Dimitri. No one would allow it. I reached my rooms, and I tried once again to be the same person I had been when I had left this morning. The worst thing about being royal? The lack of privacy you get.

I walked to my bed chamber, ignoring all my ladies as they scuttled to their feet and dropped into curtseys. Standing in front of the looking glass, I looked at my reflection. I looked no different, apart from my eyes, they looked older, and more tired. If this is what growing up leads too, I'd rather just get to the next stage of the cycle. I knew my father would ignore me if I said that Adrian had hit me. He hit my mother sometimes. He hit her when she miscarried a boy. It had been one of the scariest things I'd ever seen, until today.

The door opened behind me, and the person who had entered my chambers quickly shut the doors behind them. My heart rate increased in fear, until the person turned around and pulled off the cloak that they'd been wearing. My eyes saw brown hair that was held in place by a piece of leather, brown eyes that was so deep I was falling into them, a crooked grin that was brighter than the sun and a toned body. Dimitri Belikov had snuck into my room.

I gasped and ran into his arms, inhaling the familiar sent of him.

"Oh Dimitri! I love you! I missed you so much!" I was babbling, but the relief that had come with his arrival had loosened my tongue.

"Hush sweetheart, oh I love you too, I shouldn't but I do..." he was talking at the same time as me. We both stopped together, and then laughed. I sank into his arms and we stayed like that for a moment. I was in heaven. This was bliss. Eventually, Dimitri moved. He placed too fingers under my chin and raised it to him, then he lowered his lips to mine. There was fireworks. There may have even been a canon. Love and passion washed through me, all brought from the kiss. The kiss was everything, love, lust, passion and concern. I released everything and threw it all in the kiss, not caring that anyone could walk through those doors to see this passionate embrace. Then, just my luck the doors opened.

My father stood there, with Adrian.

Clifty! :D *Evil laugh* ok, I know that's mean but I felt I had to end it there to help make the suspense unbearable. And because I'm really hungry right now and there is triple chocolate muffins waiting for me in the kitchen! :O

Anyways. Reviewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww :D and I'll send you all cyber muffins ;)