Chapter 18.2

Dominic’s presence was like a transparent shield around her. He left her exposed before every humiliation beyond it, yet the moment someone tried to lay a hand on her, he turned vicious. It was maddeningly contradictory.

“Why…?”

“Why what?”

Dominic caught the whisper that slipped from her lips.

“Why go through all this trouble? What do you gain from it?”

He palmed her cheek. The gray eyes that met hers held no warmth. No trace of affection, not even life. Anyone who believed Dominic cared for her would have to be a fool.

As he gently caressed her skin, the servants quickly turned their heads away. Soon, only the two of them were aware of each other’s gaze.

“Because, my wife,” he murmured, tilting his head as he drew her face closer, “hope makes despair that much sweeter.”

Livi’s lips parted.

He humiliated her, deceiving everyone around them, just for such a twisted reason?

Contempt burned through her violet eyes.

She couldn’t accept that answer. Dragging innocent people into his emotional outbursts? It was shameless and disgraceful.

“I don’t understand why you’re so angry.”

Then, staring at her rigid face, he captured her mouth in one swift, possessive motion. He pinned her hands against his thigh as his tongue invaded her mouth, licking slowly along the inside of her cheek.

Each time it brushed the roof of her mouth, Livi felt her breath catch. If she let her mind slip for even a second, she’d fall into a bottomless dark.

“Mmh, hng…”

Gasping, she found herself pulled fully forward, her body pressed against his chest. Dominic’s fingers traced her lips as he whispered—

“Open your eyes, wife. You should at least see whose mouth you’re sharing.”

Livi ignored him and turned her head away. Dominic clicked his tongue, then suddenly lifted her onto his lap. Her eyes flew open wide, but before she could protest, his lips claimed hers again, silencing every word.

He continued to kiss her until her mouth went completely dry. Then, still holding her, he rose from his seat.

“Let’s go.”

“A-are you leaving, Your Grace?”

“Safe travels, sir,” the knights said quickly, standing to salute. Relief swept through the table like a breeze. The tense dinner, as suffocating as a bed of thorns, finally loosened its grip.

Jeff, looking especially bright, even jumped to his feet.

“Your Grace, have a safe, swift, and speedy departure!”

“Shut it.”

“Please be gentle!”

Dominic shoved his chair back carelessly and strode off. Thinking they were heading back upstairs, Livi was surprised when he pushed open the front door instead.

“Bring me a horse.”

He nodded toward the stables, and the servants rushed to lead out a black horse, one Livi recognized. It was the same one they’d ridden together on the way to Celsion.

“Get on.”

“Where are we going all of a sudden?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

Her dress was far too cumbersome to mount properly, and she hesitated beside the horse. Without waiting, Dominic lifted her up himself, settling her sideways in the saddle.

He swung up behind her, one arm circling her waist while the other seized the reins. The horse surged forward at his command.

As their speed quickened, the nightmare of her last ride came flooding back. Those flying heads, and the terror of the gallop.

Livi retched, her body pitching forward. Had Dominic not caught her in time, she would have crashed to the ground. She gasped for breath, trembling, until the horse finally halted. The moment her feet touched the ground, she dropped to her knees and vomited.

She didn’t even have time to figure out where he’d brought her. Livi swallowed hard, forcing back the convulsions rising in her throat. The last thing she wanted was to look pathetic in front of this damned man.

“Hh, ugh, haah, ugh…”

“Shh, easy. Take a deep breath.”

“Haaa…”

A large hand came to rest on her back. She twisted her body to escape it, but it was useless.

His hand followed her insistently, patting between her shoulder blades. His touch almost felt kind.

“That’s it. Now, lift your head, my wife.”

As her breathing steadied, he whispered near her ear, his voice carrying a faint, amused lilt.

Don’t look.

The voice screamed inside her. Don’t lift your head. Don’t look. Please, don’t look.

Her heart pounded violently in her chest. Cold air rushed into her nose, plunging deep into her lungs. When she didn’t move, the hand on her shoulder blades pressed down harder.

“My sweet wife. Livi. Livadonia.”

“…”

“Are you scared, by any chance?”

The mocking edge in his voice pierced her ears. The moment she heard it, Livi shoved him away and staggered to her feet.

The mesh holding her hair together snagged on the buttons of his coat and came loose, her golden hair spilling out in a tangled mess. Through the wild strands, she caught a glimpse of the silhouette of a person.