Predatory Marriage

he Royal Family of Estia waved magnificently, and Ishakan’s mouth twisted.
In spite of all her dedication, no one in Estia had saved their Princess.
It seemed ridiculous to him that they would only watch the sacrifice she was making with her blood and her tears.
They were disgusting.

“Attack!” He commanded.
Haban grabbed the ram’s horn at his waist and blew a battle call, the loud sound echoing across the vast plain.
The Kurkans had split up to advance from multiple directions, and the other groups responded with their own horns, the sounds that signaled the start of battle.

“Ambush!” The royal knight shouted.
“Increase speed!”

The knights were only belatedly aware of their pursuers.
Chasing fleeing prey was what Kurkans did best.

The knights were quickly surrounded, their shouts and the sound of swords being drawn mingling.
The eulalies were stained with hot blood as the knights resisted desperately, and the coachmen tried to escape.
All of it was in vain.
Iron hooks flew from all directions like arrows and caught the carriage.

“These barbarians…!” The coachman shouted, waving his whip frantically.

Those were his last words.
A curved dagger pierced his heart and the carriage lurched, out of control.
The ropes tightened and the carriage tipped over.

With his curved sword, Ishakan slashed the neck of an approaching knight.
There was a cruel smile on his face.
It was difficult to control his nature at the sight of blood, and his instincts would only become more frantic with more killing.

His golden eyes glittered from a mask of red blood.
A knight who met his eyes backed away in fright, but a rope caught him by the neck and dragged him from his horse.
The one-sided slaughter continued, and Ishakan’s body was stained with blood.

Finally, he looked to the overturned carriage, where a small woman was struggling to push open the damaged door.
He couldn’t help smiling.
She should be frightened, but she wasn’t hiding.
Instead she was trying to get out and look around to understand her situation.
It suited her.

There were no more obstacles blocking his path.
Slowly, he led his horse toward her, and Leah’s eyes widened.
Her beautiful purple eyes trembled.

“Why…?”

Her silvery eyelashes, her thick, finely curved lips, her soft voice…all very charming.

He couldn’t wait any longer.
He grabbed her and held her in his arms.
The moment he held her slender body, her soft, sweet scent reached his nose.
It was a scent that soothed even his violent nature.
A feeling of complete contentment filled his body.

My light, my salvation.

My bride.

“Don’t you remember?” Ishakan smiled brightly, unable to contain his growing joy.
“Didn’t I say I’d ruin your life?”