The Devil in Reign

Invitation.

So it goes...

She got out of the bath, lingering in the rosy water until it felt cold to the touch and her skin was shrivelled up like a prune. Her hair wrapped in a towel and her body in a loosely fitting robe.

Alexandria made her way out the bathroom and to the hall with shaking hands as she gripped her phone. This wasn't right. Christian was being an asshole.

Plus one? After everything he did to provoke her into almost giving in to infidelity, and he wants her to bring her plus one.

It made her so angry she just wanted to—

Scream. She screamed at the top of lungs, collapsing to the floor in a tangled mess. Tears pouring down her face as she couldn't hide or control her emotions anymore.

She heard footsteps but she couldn't register who's they were. Common sense would've been to say James but she was so disoriented that she felt it was a member of The Scotland Yard coming to arrest her for somehow speaking out against the king.

"Don't touch me!" She screamed, kicking and punching the flesh in front of her.

"Shh, baby. It's James. I've got you." She heard a soothing voice whisper.

She stopped fighting, realizing her energy was just departing from her but her tears kept falling.

"J-James? As in m-my fiancé?" She stuttered out, choking on saliva as she tried to swallow and speak.

"Yes, Ale. It's me. You're okay." He responded softly, getting down on one knee to scoop her up like a rag doll and gently place her on the large king sized bed that graced their bedroom.

"Let's get you dressed and tucked into bed." He stated, walking off to her dresser to grab her favourable items of choice, obviously noting that Alexandria was incapable of doing it herself, still a shivering, cold, wet mess on the bed.

•••••••

She wanted to tell James what was wrong. She wanted to tell him everything. But she couldn't. She didn't know how.

She lay in bed with him, head resting on his shoulder as he flipped through late night comedy hosts. He massaged her skin, brought her favourite pair of pyjamas to wear and somehow managed to bring her cats upstairs and into the room.

"You look exhausted, Princess." He stated, his bare muscular arms loosening their grip around the fragile woman.

"I am. More than anything." She muttered, peeking her head up a little to peer at him, a smile on her lips.

"You look so cute, I could just—"

"Do it."

And he gently grabbed her face and kissed her. And she kissed him back.

A kiss full of love and security and patience. A kiss with everything a couple should have but trust.

She could feel it in her bones. The trust has been lost long ago.

She pouted slightly as he pulled away to lay back down and she pressed her lips to his bare chest, letting them linger before she moved up to his jaw, tracing invisible patterns on his skin until she pulled away.

"I wish we could keep going.." James muttered with eyes closed as Alexandria placed her head on his chest and got comfortable.

"As do I but—"

"We have a big day tomorrow and you need your rest. I love you, my angel." He finished, pressing his lips to her forehead in a sweet kiss before she seemingly seemed to doze off.

••••••

She just lay there. Unable to be graced by the beautiful blessing of sleep. Eyes open and staring at the ceiling as she held onto her almost husband's arm, silent tears dripping down her cheeks.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow she will face the man that would make or break her; thus determining her future.

Tomorrow.

How would she even make it through. 

•••••••••

HEY GUYS! Short chapter today but only because it's almost 2am and I'm just deciding to split Invitation into two parts! This and Ballgowns, maybe. Honestly, I feel so hurt when it comes to Alex's character. She's so conflicted and I just want her to be happy but her heart is torn! And what about James? He seems like such a sweetheart, Goddddd. Especially when he gave her a bath and dressed her! Give me a James please. ANYWAYYYY, I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THAT.
xoxo,
Britt.