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59

That bastard tore my queen's most sacred and valuable treasure, shredding it to bits which boiled my blood, letting it burn my organs and scorch them. Imagining him touching her just added more gasoline to my raging fire that is bound to engulf me one way or another. I'm going to break those filthy hands of his that dared to touch her and hurt her.

The room began constricting on me as more salty tears flowed steadily out of her eyes that had extreme hurt, sadness, and anger in them. She sits up against the headboard and attempts to wipe away the tears but they wouldn't halt. I rise up from the ground and sit right in front of her. Cupping her face in my hands, I bring my lips up to the tear that cascaded down her right cheek and kissed it, tasting the salty warm liquid. Turning her head slightly, I kissed the ones that escaped her left eye as well before I look into her beautiful orbs. "I can't stand tears in your eyes, my love. They hurt me." Planting a small kiss on each eyelids, I continue, "he'll regret ever meeting you and I'll make sure of it."

She swiftly crawls out from under the covers and wraps herself around me tightly. Her face nuzzles into my neck while her arms tangled around it and her legs locked around my torso. Her sobs begin ravaging my ears as she shook with each painful cry. I hold her close as my right hand glides down her spine soothingly, tightening her grip even more. "Shhh, love." I try to quiet her down. "I'm right here. He can't hurt you." I softly rock our bodies back and forth on the bed.

"I love you." She mumbles all of a sudden, taking me by surprise and stopping my heart all together. Pulling her head back, her foggy eyes search mine as her soft hands hold my face in them. "I love you so much," she says once again firmly before joining our foreheads together. My heart began to run a million miles per hour at this very moment as her words passed through me and down to my heart. I could hear the pounding echoing through my ears as I could feel her throbbing heartbeat against her chest.

I place my palm on her heart, forcing her eyes open. "Calm your heart and let's get you some sleep."

"Please stay with me," she begged with tears still crawling out of her saddened eyes.

"You need to rest, my love."

"Please don't leave me." She hugged me tighter. "I'm scared to fall asleep."

Tears wanted to break through my eyes, crippling my strength at my woman's pain. Her body shook violently in my arms, making me hold her even more closer. I didn't want to let her go just yet. She needed me right now and for which I'll be here for her no matter what. "Okay." I lift us up from the bed with her fragile body still clinging to mine. Drawing the covers off a little, I place us under them. I remove Arie's hold just a little to shut the lamp off and to fling my suit jacket onto the floor before I hug her body close. She laid her body on top of me with her arms around my chest and legs trapping me while her head nested itself into my neck. Her breathing slowed down as she fell asleep on me.

How did an innocent thing like her get pulled into all the darkness, all the pain and suffering? The horrors of this world are clearly eating her, so how can I make her mine when those horrors are a daily visitor in my life? Something deep in my soul shattered to see her like this; so broken and weak. I know my strong queen can handle Astor and kill him with ease, but a person can only take so much before completely shutting down.

She deserves a secure life; one where she doesn't have to worry about all this shit, one where she can have kids and not worry about them getting hurt or killed every single day, one where she can love whoever she wants without the fear of losing them every minute, and one where I hold no place in, one I'm not a part of.

I turn my head to face her angelic features. She's the most beautiful woman I've ever come across that has captivated my dangerous heart, a heart too dangerous for her. I brush her hair back and give her a soft kiss on her cheeks, gazing at her beauty under the moonlight that glistened and danced on her velvety skin once again. "I love you too."


(Arie's POV)

"You look amazing!" I bend down and whisper into Sophie's ear as she stared at her reflection in the long antique mirror in front of her. She smiled meekly and squeezed my hand that rested on her shoulder. Letting out a heavy breath, she stood up with her white dress flowing in all directions. White lace covered her upper body and arms in the form of little flowers scattered all over and lining her deep neck, exposing her cleavage while multiple layers of white net sat upon the one single layer of silk beneath all the puffy monstrosity. Her hair was nicely pulled to the right, resting above her shoulder in soft, delicate, yet strong curls with cans of hairspray lathering each strand.

"Really?" She asked, furrowing her freshly waxed brows and puckering her glossy lips that were a slight shade of pink, matching her blush.

"Yes, really." I smile at her and take her shaky hand in mine. "I don't know how, but you've managed to look like an angel. You're only missing some wings now."

She laughs and embraces me. "God, I'm a little scared."

"You'll be fine. Just breathe and be the badass Sophie that I know and love."

Pulling away she grins at me. "You're going to be taking all the attention off of me with that beautiful dress I chose."

"Please," I roll my eyes and walk towards her four inch heels that she insisted on wearing. The only eyes I needed on me were Leo's, who I haven't talked to since the club yesterday. I woke up this morning in my bed with a slight headache and no recollection of last night's events. Aunt Wendy said that I was supposedly drunk and Leo brought me home, but that's complete bullshit for sure. The last thing engraved into my memory was me drinking water and slowly fading away into oblivion. I let Aunt Wendy believe I was drunk, but I know there's much more to it. I don't want to ask Sophie, so Leo is the only person who probably knows the entire story, but he isn't answering my texts or calls which is very unusual.

"Thank you," Sophie said as I placed her heels at her feet. "And I'm being serious. I mean look at you." She pointed at my outfit which was a peach strapless dress I was adorned in with lace covering my breasts in tender and precise folds starting on each side and joining at the valley in the middle, then being cut off by a wide silk ribbon in a darker shade that tied off to the right side of my waist and flowed chiffon down my long legs. "You can't tell me that you don't look hot."

Before I could retort back, the other two bridesmaids strutted into the room of the mansion Sophie's parents owned an hour away from my house in a nice, plain, secluded area with greenery all around. They narrowed their eyes at me like Cinderella's evil stepsisters while they flipped their newly dyed blonde hair. "Dumbass bitches," Sophie mumbled under her breath and smiled wide at them, making me laugh internally.

"It's time!"

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