Predatory Marriage

fter Ishakan had gone a fair distance, Leah tapped him on the shoulder.

Carefully, he set her down, and though she staggered a little as she caught her balance, she managed to stay on her feet without the cane they had left back in the carriage.
In the middle of the field of eulalies, they faced each other, and Leah’s hair rippled with the flowers before the breath of the wind.
Ishakan could only look at the glow of her hair in the sunlight.
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He had been unusually quiet all day, and silent since they got out of the carriage.
Usually he would have teased her by now, or said something naughty.
It made her even more nervous, and her lips felt as if they had been glued together.

“…I want to…”

Her voice sounded strange.
Leah cleared her throat and tried again.

“I want to have a proper wedding with you.”

With trembling hands, she pulled the box from her pocket and opened the lid for him.
The velvet-lined box contained two rings side by side.
Ishakan’s eyes fixed on them, staring, and then slowly lifted to her.

Leah took several deep breaths.

“Marry me.”

The wind rose again in the silence.

“What if I don’t want to?” Ishakan asked with a smile.

“…That’s not an option!”

Leah’s face heated as she glared up at him, outraged.
She had done her best to plan all of this and then plucked up the courage to propose…

“If I refuse, will you force me?” Ishakan asked, clearly suppressing his laughter.

Leah lifted her chin.

“I will if I have to,” she told him, filled with dignity.
“This time, I’ll ruin your life.”

Ishakan burst out laughing, and the sound rolled out to fill the field of eulalies.
Once he recovered, he took the box from her hand and slid the silver ring onto his finger, then plucked out the golden ring.
Taking her hand, he slipped the small ring onto her ring finger.

“All right,” he agreed, lifting her hand to his lips.
“Destroy me, Leah.”

Then he yanked her into him by her hand, and she stumbled forward, off-balance as he caught her.
His arms tightened around her waist.

“I will be by your side for the rest of my life.”

His golden eyes glowed so brightly, Leah immediately slid her arms around her neck, transfixed.
Then she kissed the man with the beast-like eyes, and thought that she finally knew what it was, to be completely happy.

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