Guard of my Heart ✅

7. Control

When I wake up Sophie comes to my room to prepare me for my day. "Are there any trousers?" I ask, looking around the room. Josh chuckles from my bed but I ignore him.

"I can get some" Sophie smiles as she slips out of my room.

"Are you finished with dresses?" Josh asks as he climbs out of my bed. His nude body moving across my chambers. He grabs a pair of underwear and a pair of black dress pants.

"After yesterday. Very" I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. "Things are going to change if I take over."

"Thank the lord" he chuckles as he moves to kiss me. "I love you."

"I love you too" I reply as Sophie walks in with my pants. I slide them over my legs and grab a shirt from my dresser. It's red and has a scoop neckline. I slide my bracelet over my wrist and slip off my engagement ring.

"Oh" Josh says suddenly. "I forgot" he smiles as he takes the ring off his right ring finger. He holds it out to me and I stare at it in confusion. It's a simple silver band, more like a wedding band. "My father couldn't afford both a band and the ring" he explains. Suddenly I love the ring more than anything I've ever owned.

"Put it on me" I insist. He chuckles and slides it onto my left ring finger. I gaze down at it and smile before reaching up to kiss him. "Are you ready?" He nods and pulls on a shirt before taking my hand and following me down to my parent's chambers. On the way we pass Charlie.

"Are you happy you little whore?" he snaps.

"Thrilled actually. Especially after last night" I add with a smirk as I look up at Josh. "For the record my virtue is no longer up for grabs" I add sassily. I knew I shouldn't provoke him but I had never been one for rules.

"Wonder why" Josh smirks as he grabs my hand.

"You'll be lucky to keep your title" Charlie scoffs. "Enjoy the whore houses."

"At least I'll know one customer" I fire back. Josh laughs as I tug his hand and lead him down the hall. When we reach my parent's chambers I look at the guards and they shake their heads, silently denying me entry, making me chuckle. "It's funny. Because I wasn't asking permission" I snap as I yank open the doors and walk inside.

"Maya" my mother exclaims when she sees me.

"What are you doing in here?" my step-father asks in confusion, gazing between the two of us. "He's supposed to be packing."

"I will be eighteen in two weeks."

"We know" my mother says with a roll of her eyes.

"I'm expected to take the throne and that scares the hell out of you because you know I'll change everything. I hate the country we have become. The same country that allowed me to be abused for weeks because Charlie was a man of high esteem. The family you were born into has no bearing on your character. If it did Josh would have been the prince and Charlie would have been a guard or of a lower class. Right around the rats would have been preferable. You walked into a room last night in which I was almost raped and the most you had to say was that not only Charlie but Josh and Lucas were to be banished. For what I ask? For saving me? My virtue could've been stolen does that not anger you?" I exclaim.

"Josh is a guard, it is his job to protect me at any cost. I was in danger and he protected me. And Lucas though I know he isn't either of yours, he is my brother and he came to my rescue last night. Neither men deserve to be sent away. It's not fair."

"You're letting emotion cloud your judgement" my step-father shakes his head.

"You're right" I reply with a shrug. "I love my brother and I am madly in love with the man beside me. I want to marry him."