✓ WICKED VOWS| JAKE (Book II )

4-The angry Groom

ANNA

We spent the night guest in the royal palace, Queen Morana requested for us to have our own wing where I had my own chamber and for Inna's little family their own chamber. I had Keith and Jude guarding my chamber while the palace's guards guarded them too. What A joke. Looking around this chamber, I don't know what to call it. I felt like I was living in another century. The aesthetic of this chamber, I admit, looked good, even if it was dominated by gold colors. However, I couldn't take a picture of some coins. It screamed royalty. Before I brought my suitcase and walked towards the, of course, not that huge, elegant bathroom, I hate their elegance. It was so overdone. I was rich, but this was over-so over.

I took a quick shower in the big bathroom after I cleaned my face from the makeup that was hiding the scar on my cheek. I don't usually hide it, but I had to during this royal meeting. I changed quickly into new clothes before I went to my suitcase and took my knife and put it under my pillow. Yes, I cannot sleep without protection. I started to look at the ceiling, calculating how this week would be going. I cannot wait a fucking week to get married. I wished I could plan my husband's kill or I could order a kill on him so there would be no wedding to wait for. I discussed with his family if we could adjust the date of the wedding and speed it up.

The morning arrived before I could fully feel it, and I realized it was already ten am when I woke up. Despite feeling tired, I knew I needed to go for a run. I quickly changed into gym clothes and left the chamber. A guard led me out to their gardens, where I found myself able to run for miles and miles. The air was beautiful, more so than the cold weather in Russia. And to be honest I just want to stay naked under this healthy sun. They have to thank god every day and night because of the warm weather they have here. Winter is moving up soon in England, but it was still warm.

Later, it was dreadful how everyone was bustling around the royal table, with the king leading the gathering. I found myself sitting, or rather, being forced to sit there at eight pm. I was surrounded by my husband's grandmother, the Duke of York, some Andrew, and his companion Martha, along with their very noble daughter Sana. She was dressed according to a strict code for this dinner, resembling a blonde Barbie like her parents. We sat there, waiting for the grand entrance of my soon-to-be husband.

A few heavy beats passed before a gruff voice and a burst of laughter sliced through the tension. I slumped in my chair and took a slug of my wine. The collective noise became light and cheery, traveling back into the dining room. "Look who's come for dinner!" the grandmother spoke, her face pink with delight. Before I could turn to see who it was, a gentle hand rested on my shoulder, and I looked up to meet the gaze of a server.

"Miss Markov, the lady of the house requested to move you to the other end of the table to make room. You are sitting in Mr. Jake's place." I glanced down to the far end of the table, where the duke and his daughter, Jude, and Keith, sat glaring moodily at everyone. I looked back at the lady of the house, the grandmother, who was sending daggers towards me. So, I was sitting in the prince's place. Why hadn't anyone said anything?

I turned to the server and spoke politely, "No," before I grabbed my glass of wine and took another sip. What was she doing? "Well, isn't this a nice surprise? Now, I don't have to just admire you from afar," the new guest said, his eyes running over my royal-blue dress and coming to a stop at my chest. His eyes were striking blue, matched with blonde hair. Ethan Salvatore Winston.

His throat bobbed. "You look lovely tonight, by the way." I was grateful that the server tending to this end of the table didn't get the memo about my alcohol ban. He filled up my glass with red wine, and I took a desperate gulp before turning back to Ethan. "You know I'm engaged to your brother, right?"