Chapter 21

Anna

My mind has been racing ever since the attack. One guard, I can handle. Two, maybe. But any more without a weapon? I'd lose in a heartbeat. And I refuse to put my son in danger.

Unlike most, Benton's threats are serious and unexpected. Even when you think you're ahead of him, he always pulls something to bring you back.

When the door opened again, my feet brought me up and I stepped next to the chair. One hand gripped it tightly, prepared to use it as a weapon. Three guards stepped in, standing straight and tall before Benton walked in.

His hands were folded in front of him as he looked at me with a small smirk. "I assume you've had some time to think things through?"

There was a pause, my next words determining my and my son's life.

"If I marry you, you have to promise me that you won't hurt my child. That you won't claim it as your own or take it from me."

Benton's head tilted slightly, his voice sounding surprised but even I could hear the fakeness of it. "What kind of person do you make me out to be, Anna?"

"Don't push it!" I yelled at him.

His fake voice dropped with a sigh as he rolled his eyes, "I swear it."

If I was going to marry this man then other things were sure to be added to the list. "And you don't touch Declan. This hatred that you have for him ends. You don't kill him, you don't even have a soldier raise a gun at him. He becomes nothing to you."

Benton rose an eyebrow at me, "Getting a little carries away aren't we?"

"Give me your word or no deal!" I yelled again. This was my life I was giving up and there was no way in hell I was just going to give it up free willingly.

Another sigh left Benton's lips, "Very well." He rose his right hand, "I give you my word that I will not lay a hand on Declan Harp."

Although there was a great chance he wouldn't follow those rules, he had have to at least follow my child's. Otherwise, I'd kill him before another guard or soldier touched me.

"Fine. Then I'll marry you," I said, my eyes looking at the ground.

I have time to figure something out, to escape.

Benton's loud voice seemed to boom with excitement, "Splendid! I will send ladies to help you get dressed."

Wait, what?

My head quickly looked at Benton, my eyes scrunching together in confusion. "What?" I asked, beyond confused.

Benton smiled, stretching his arms out to his side. "Well, why else would we come here? Lord Fisher is coming as my guest, he will be hosting the wedding." My mouth parts in shock as his words slap me across the face.

"Now, you best get ready," Benton points his finger at me before turning and walking out the door.

This was it, this was his sneaky attack. We weren't waiting, we weren't moving somewhere else. It was all being done here and now.

So much for figuring out a way to escape.

With every passing moment, I became more and more afraid that Declan wouldn't get here in time. If I just had a knife or something, anything to use as a good weapon, I'd bust my way out of here.

But there was nothing here for me. Even the guards seemed to be empty handed, so sneaking one from them was out of the question.

The door opened a few minutes later and a few ladies walked in with different dresses and fabrics. Already, I was getting a headache from all of this, feeling myself ready to just collapse and sink away from all of this.

But knowing my luck, I'd pass out and Benton would do something.

"Which dress would you like?" One lady asked?

"Got anything in black?" I asked, looking at all the white dresses. The lady frowned, clearly not getting that I wasn't one for white. Even on my wedding day my dress wasn't all white.

A sigh left my lips as I waved my hand, "Just, give me the plainest one you have."

The lady turned and started going through the endless dresses. My heart raced as I watched them pull out one dress after another, all of them whispering to each other.

When the door opened for the hundredth time, my heart till hadn't slowed. My body grew tense again and I quickly went on guard again, fear of what might happen next.

Benton once again entered, making me let out a small sigh of relief and relax somewhat.

"Our guest is waiting. Shall we?" Benton asked, holding out his arm for me to take. I made my way slowly over to him, glancing at his arm. The thought of breaking it came to mind but I forced the action away and walked out of the room without him.

I heard him sig and mutter something before closing my door behind him. He walked a little bit in front of me, seeming to sense that I wasn't going anywhere.

This wasn't me. I was a fighter, a survivor who would kill Benton in a heartbeat. But, everything feels like it's changed. I don't feel like myself.

Benton leads the way down the steps, the actions of a day or so ago repeating in my mind. Maybe that's why I couldn't do anything, because I still felt numb from killing my father.

Lord Fisher stood at the bottom of the stairs, smiling when he spotted Benton and me.

"Lord Benton."

"Lord Fisher!" Benton exclaimed much happier than Fisher. He waited until we reached the bottom of the stairs before introducing me. "It is such an honor to welcome you to my home. Allow me to present Miss. Anna Emberly."

I bit my tongue so hard that I was sure it would bleed.

Lord Fisher's eyes moved to me, his head bowing towards me. "Charmed, Madame. You retain a remarkably youthful beauty for having survived in such a savage climate."

All I can do is lightly nod, anything else would force curse words out.

He looks at me slightly skeptical, causing my heart to race in a panic. I'm fine with him thinking something is going on here that raises red flags. Just not in front of Benton.

"As much as I'd love to stay and discuss things, I best be off to get ready," I say, putting on one of the fakest smiles I've ever made. Even though I couldn't see myself, I was sure I wouldn't be able to even put it past a stranger if they saw it.

Although, Fisher didn't seem to point it out, instead he just lightly nodded with a smile, "Of course. It was lovely to meet you, Miss. Anna."

I nod back, "You too."

With that, I turned and practically jogged back up the steps, the back of my head feeling eyes burn into it. It wasn't until I slipped back into my room did I slam the door shut and let my words slip.

"Shit! That fucking bastered!"

As my head rose, I saw all the ladies look at me with gapped mouths.

A sigh left my lips as I rose my hand to my stomach, feeling that it had grown a little. With a deep breath, I made my way over to the ladies, letting them fit me for my dress.

The action felt like it was taking forever, but eventually they had finished and left me to myself to take care of changing.

Knocks on the door, made me turn, finding Lord Fisher walking in and closing the door behind him. A smile spread on his face when he saw me in my dress, "My, you look lovely."

I stared at Lord Fisher for a moment, my words debating on when and how to come out. "Lord Fisher, you seem like a smart man. Smarter than most. So it would not surprise me if you knew my truth."

"That your name is in fact Anna Harp? That you are married to a Mr. Declan Harp?" He asked, but it was no question, it was s statement. He slightly bows for a second when he realizes I'm not responding, "I thank you for the compliment."

I continue on, hoping the Lord Fisher can see through this madness and put a stop to it. "Then I must ask, this doesn't raise any questions to you?"

Folding his hands behind his back, Lord Fisher speaks. "As you stated, Anna, I am a pretty smart man. But the question on your soon to be actions are not lingering in my mind. My assumptions are, that you're doing this for someone you love. Or that you want something to end."

Moving my eyes to look at my hands that gather in front of me, I nod, "Both are true."

"Then both state that you are doing this by your own action and not by ones forced on you. Correct?"

I stay on my hands, unable to break them away as I say my next words. "If I said no, my husband and my unborn child would parish at the hands of an ungrateful man." Sucking in a deep breath, I find the courage to look at Fisher, "So yes."

Lord Fisher nods, seeming to take a moment to take it all in before bowing slightly and turning to leave. I watch as his hand grabs the door knob and twists it, opening it just to close it behind him.

Once Again, I'm left in the silence with only my thoughts to keep me alive.

Sorry the chapter is so short, but I still hope you enjoyed! Do you think Anna really will marry Benton? Do you think Declan can save them in time?

Let me know!

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