Kade lazily gazed down at her. She was forcing her chest to rise and fall steadily. Such a sweet fool she was. He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. Her skin was as soft as cotton, with a tinge of red.

  Kade's other hand slowly followed the outline of her body. His hand gripped the dip of her hips, for she laid on her side. When she didn't respond, his touch only went lower. Then lower, until he was pulling up her skirts and revealing her pale legs.

  Kade heard her sharp intake. Gently, his fingers massaged her inner thighs, his knuckles teasing and brushing upon her entrance. He caressed her sensitive skin until she writhed away from him.

  "Come now, my wife," Kade murmured, his voice thick and hoarse. "Open your eyes."

  She didn't.

  The corner of his mouth curled. So, she wanted to be awakened by his hand.

  Kade pressed his thumb upon her soaked undergarment. He let out a breath, resembling a harsh laugh. Her brows grew taut. With his middle finger, he parted the thin fabric, his forefinger stroking the moistened lips. Then, he slid it higher, until it fondled her sensitive pearl.

  Lina's hips buckled. Only then, did she open her eyes.

  "Stop that," Lina managed to gasp out, turning over on her back.

  Kade knew she was never asleep. Her eyes were too alert and bright for someone who had just woken up. He loved the hatred in her stare. She regarded him like a man that murdered her family.

  Kade responded by pulling his hand away and licking his fingertips. Her breath hitched. His lips slowly spread upwards.

  "Delicious."

  "You, you—"

  "I didn't have supper. Be my dessert," Kade coaxed.

  Kade slipped into the bed with her, his knees straddling her hips. She responded by shoving at his chest. He gripped her wrists and pinned them beside her head. Her eyes grew wide, revealing the universe tucked within.

  "So now you want to make up?" Lina shot back. "Have you reached the limits of your horniness? Are you going to dump inside me and then leave?"

  Kade's gaze darkened. She treated him like scum. He was her husband. It was his right to give her pleasure.

  "When have I ever dumped and left?" Kade snarled, his grip tightening on her wrist. They were fragile little things. He could snap them like branches.

  Kade stroked his thumb on her wrists. They were beautiful, like white jade. Her entire body was meant to be worshiped and admired, by him alone.

  "You picked up some random woman like a cat on the streets, then blamed me for the death of my maidservant and soldiers!" Lina cried out. "You left me before I could even explain. You—"

  "You're hurt," Kade realized.

  Kade was not used to caring about other people's emotions. He had grown up without sympathy. How was he supposed to learn empathy? The people in his life taught him to be harsh and hellbound.

  He was never the gentle hero who knew how to love, he was the wicked villain without a heart.

  "Of course I'm hurt. Any woman would! You disrespected me in front of other people, you made me feel like I was being replaced, and I hated it," Lina rushed out.

  Then, she slowly blinked. "I hated you."

  Kade felt something inside of him crumble. His chest might as well have collapsed. Suddenly, he felt the urge to kill. But not her, anyone but her.

  Wrath pooled in her eyes as if she despised the air he breathed, the ground he walked on, and the people he knew.

  "No, no you don't," Kade attempted to argue.

  Kade released her wrists. She tried to push him away. He cupped her face like she was the most precious thing in the world. He brought his head down, resting their foreheads together.

  "You like me," Kade emphasized. "You told me, love is love. You—"

  "Do you even love me?" Lina whispered. "You parade another woman in front of me after days of not seeing me. You treated your wife like livestock meant to be commanded. I—"

  "I like you," Kade murmured.

  Lina's heart stopped.

  Kade let out a shaky breath, staring deep into her eyes. She was a fragile crystal? in his hands. He worried she'd shatter into thousands of tiny pieces he could never put back together. But he'd force himself to. He'd pick up all the crumbs of her and piece it whole. He'd do that for her.

  "I like everything about you," Kade admitted.

  Kade didn't think it was possible to like someone this much, but he did.

  "Liar—"

  "I like the way you get angry at me, the pain you feel because of me, the hatred in your eyes, the adoration in your smile, and the hesitancy of your touch," Kade confessed.

  Lina's heart raced back to life. All she could hear was the admiration in his voice like she was some goddess in a temple, and he was the lone devoter. She swallowed back the irritation from this morning.

  How could this man break and make her all at once?

  "Like me back," Kade demanded. "I want everything from you. Your heart, your soul, and your body. Give it to me and I'll cherish it dearly."

  Lina's fingers rested on his hands. His thumb caressed her face tenderly. His mouth was a breath away. This man was greedy and evil. He hurt her and then healed her.

  "You can't be this selfish," Lina responded. "You can't treat me badly one minute, and then kindly the next. That sort of relationship will break my body, heart, and soul."

  Kade's world began to spin. What did she mean he couldn't be selfish with her? She was his wife. She belonged to him, as much as he belonged to her. He was a man of his word and honor. Though he made no vow to her, he made a vow to himself.

  His wife was going to be the one thing in this world he'd cherish until the end of time. She was going to be the happiest woman on this earth and the richest under the sky.

  "Then I'll treat you better," Kade swore.

  Lina pressed her lips together. She turned her head. He pulled his forehead away, to peer down at her. She didn't know if she could believe him. When she saw him and Priscilla this morning, it had shattered her completely.

  "Lina…" Kade called out.

  Kade grasped her hand, holding it tenderly with one of his own. Then, his entire body froze. Her soft fingertips, like the softness of fluttering wings, were rough. Suddenly, he yanked her hand before him.

  Kade saw red. His gaze grew venomous.

  "Who did this?!" Kade snarled, seeing the bandages on her fingers. They were wrapped from the tip to the knuckles.

  "Who did this to you?" Kade demanded, his voice rising, but not at her.

  Kade was going to murder them with his own two hands. No one was getting away with hurting what was his. Who dared to damage his property? Who had the guts to hurt his wife? They had courted an agonizing death.

  "It might as well have been you," Lina emotionlessly said.

  Kade was floored by her words. What did she just say?

  Lina shifted her hardened gaze to him.

  "Your behavior towards me has caused these bandages."

  Kade stared at her like she was crazy. It wasn't like he commanded his people to hurt her. He made it clear a scratch on her equated to a beating.

  "Explain," Kade urged.

  Lina pressed her lips together. If he couldn't even realize who it was, should she even tell him? He should see to it himself.

  "Dove of mine," Kade sighed.

  Kade used his freed hand to grasp her chin. He brought her gaze back to him. His chest ached whenever her attention wasn't on him. It was a confusing emotion.

  "If you don't tell me, I can't help you," Kade said.

  Lina's eyes flashed. She didn't need help from him. She took the abuse as punishment for her mess.

  Lina didn't complain about the pain because she knew she deserved it. She had unintentionally harmed her people, all because of her disobedience.

  "Then don't help me, I never asked for it," Lina snapped at him.

  Lina yanked her face back and pulled her hand away. She attempted to roll out of the bed, but he caught her.

  Kade slammed his hands on the bed. He caged her in.

  "My wife," Kade demanded. "Tell me who it is."

  "My Lord Husband," Lina addressed. "It's far too late."

  Kade's nostrils flared. His jaw tightened. His wife was an insufferable woman. He wanted to suffocate her to death with his adoration.

  "My Lady Wife," Kade stated. "If you don't tell me, I'll bring every servant in existence here and cut off their heads until one of them confesses."

  Lina's head snapped to him. "You wouldn't!"

  "Then tell me who," Kade cooed.

  A dark and twisted smile slipped onto his face. His features became hauntingly beautiful. The moonlight added a dangerous glow to his ethereal body.

  Lina was suddenly worried about the man she had fallen for. Her heart throbbed for him. It yearned for his approval and adoration. She was tired. They had been fighting for days now. She just wanted everything to stop.

  "Will we always be at war with each other?" Lina asked him. "Because I am a spoiled Princess from Teran and you're a sadistic Prince of Ritan?"

  "Our wars will be a battle that not even this Commander can win," Kade said. He bent down until their faces were close.

  "So lay down your weapons, soldier," Kade murmured. "And I'll put mine away."

  Lina hesitated. She observed him. His brows were knitted together. His features were sadistic, but he was so damn handsome. There was his sly smile, but she saw the exhaustion in his eyes.

  Lina shakily reached a hand up to touch his face. He immediately responded by leaning into her touch. He rubbed against her hand, like a large beast that wanted to be petted.

  The thought humored her.

  "I don't like it when we fight," Lina said. "Next time, can't we just yell at each other like normal couples?"

  Kade harshly chuckled. "Dove of mine, when will we ever be a normal couple?"

  Lina didn't know the answer to that question. She never would. They were a pair of star-crossed lovers. She knew that much.

  "One day, our differences will consume us," Lina told him.

  Kade didn't believe that.

  "Or they could unite us," Kade responded.

  "I just want to be loved," Lina mumbled. Her voice was low and shy. "I don't want to fall in love because everything that falls gets broken."

  "Not unless I catch you, you won't," Kade swore.

  Lina could've sworn the world stopped right then and there. Everything felt so perfect. It was the paradise before the storm.

  Lina could do nothing but let out a broken laugh.

  "I'll hold you to those words, my dear husband," Lina threatened.

  "You already hold my heart, dove of mine," Kade responded. "With that much power in your hands, I'd never go back on what I said."