3

He was totally different from what I had known years ago. Kaanadan had a full, well-groomed beard. His hair grew longer, going in wavy layers halfway down his neck, the color still the same, light brown. Besides being even stronger.

I am impressed by its visual youth. The weather was good, even.

I was still staring at him tense and surprised by the misfortune of finding Kaanadan Salvatore soon, the future husband I wanted to escape from. He was looking me straight in the eyes, and his lashes are still way too perfect for a man.

"So you're not going to answer me?" Kaanadan broke the silence and I took a step back, taking a deep breath before looking back at him.

— No, it wasn't lost... I came to see the place.

He doesn't seem to be convinced, but he doesn't contradict my speech either. I look around and curse myself for not being 100% focused in front of me. My pulse quickened as I realized I had again missed my chance, but it was even more tense as I turned to Kaanadan. Her gaze landed on my legs, and slowly moved up until she found my face again. I didn't get that look the last time I saw him. And I felt insecure to be in his presence when I realized that this was desire.

“I think if we have to go, we should go soon. I say firmly, trying to shake off that frightened feeling. As much as my lips almost trembled when speaking.

- Right. I think the same.

He extended his arm. I hesitated a bit and held on to the curve formed, feeling his biceps tighten. I took a deep breath to maintain a false tranquility and then we continued the same way I came.

I felt Kaanadan's gaze on me again, however much I fixed my gaze ahead of me. I sighed nervously and decided to say something so that his eyes would close:

“You shouldn't be alone with me. — I say a rather obvious fact. - It's not appropriate.

A very visible excuse. I hated that phrase, but ironically it was a relief to meet her.

Kaanadan followed beside me. "I'm told they found her alone." Where is Julio? Isn't he responsible for you since you were young?

— He went to fetch water for me. Only that. - I shrugged, I had nothing to fear.

"And does he always trust you enough?" Doesn't he fear you'll run away?

“Why would I run away? — I looked at him. — I'm in a world where I'm not the one who takes care of my life... if I went out, a thousand men would appear at my heels. Like a few minutes ago. "That sounds downright nervous."

“So you admit you tried to run away…” Kaanadan looks at me seriously.

— I admit that I left for a few minutes and you appeared as if you feared my steps...

I look up and see that we've stopped. I follow, doing the same to accompany me.

Kaanadan accompanied me and we were silent.

We quickly joined the people entering the stone castle. Kaanadan said something to the security guard and soon we went inside. The place was fully decorated, with well distributed tables and a large space where people gathered, they didn't dance, they just drank from beautiful glasses and talked. The lighting is great and well placed, some in blue and purple, which moved around the moving lamp.

I grabbed the skirt of my dress and lifted it slightly, walking up the four steps beside Kaanadan, who became more robotic than before. I looked at his face and he faced the place with his head held high, in a posture well known as authoritarian and intimidating.

I felt tense with his posture.

It didn't have any familiar faces, but as we approached, a photographer approached, beckoning me and Kaanadan to join us. He didn't say anything, just let go of my hand and gripped my hips, pulling me to him with a swiftness that made me swallow hard.

One strong flash and it was all over. I walked away from Kaanadan faster than I approached. We looked at each other and I ignored him, looking straight ahead again.

"I think it's best not to do that again." Kaanadan says low and cold.

“I don't know why you brought me here. — I stared at him. "What was the cost of waiting five days?"

Kaanadan looked me straight in the eye. So cold it froze my skin.

- I have my reasons.

His eyes, still locked on mine, give me a totally strange feeling, making me step back and look straight ahead. I fix my hair and take a deep breath.

We walked together through the full and refined place. The glances in my direction were constant, which I suppose the presence of a different woman next to Kaanadan triggers curiosity. It makes me sick just imagining that so many look at me as if they were looking at Kaanadan's other companions at their events. In a way I am grateful that it came to an end (publicly) as soon as our engagement was announced to the press.

While neither spoke directly, a tall blonde approached, so elegant I could have dropped my jaw. She had hair in beautiful waves, which danced as she walked. The woman stopped in front of me and Kaanadan, alternating for a few seconds with me and him.

"Hello…" She said as she held a glass of champagne aside.

“Hello,” I say gently.

“Veronica. “Kaanadan was clearly impatient.

The woman with the big legs visible through the slits in her greenish dress, looked at Kaanadan. "I'm surprised to see you accompanied." Hadn't he decided to stay... in the drought?

Veronica had a strong accent, and I didn't hesitate to think that she might be Italian.

Kaanadan took a deep impatient breath and looked at her, serious as a robot. No emotion on her face. “Veronica, this is Celeste…my future wife.

I gasped at the woman's gaze my way. She directed her eyes straight to my left hand, which was holding my handbag. Her smile faded. Of course, he quickly found the engagement ring: a beautiful model with the main stone being a navy blue sapphire. The blonde's gaze wasn't kind, but she gave a slight smile.

“Congratulations to you both. It surprises me that Kaanadan Salvatore found someone to marry.

The irony is clear. This leads me to understand two options:

1) She liked and wanted a chance with Kaanadan.

2) She was one of Kaanadan's "close" women.

The same just nodded the blonde. - Thanks.

I couldn't stay silent. I gave a weak smile and thanked him in the same way. Kaanadan took me away so fast that the blonde was soon gone.

At a long table, we sat next to three couples, everyone greeted me and I realized that the main one was Kaanadan's cousin, Silvério. I saw him once when he came to my house. The red-haired woman next to him is Margarida Gonzales, his wife.

While Kaanadan is talking to his cousin, the redhead touches my hand, calling for attention. I looked at her.

"You don't seem very excited." Don't like these types of events?

She seems to just strike up a conversation. But she's the only one in the room who doesn't look at me strangely.

"I don't like the com-..." I cut myself off when I realized that Kaanadan could probably hear. “These looks, that's all.

She nods and I drink a little of the soft red wine already in the glass.

"Don't worry, it always happens." - She says and looks at her husband, soon getting closer to me and moving away from him. — Just don't show too much discomfort, Veronica is almost on top of you.

I discreetly look back and I can see the blonde in front of me. I look back at Marga, as she asked me to call her at the beginning. I move a little away from Kaanadan and get closer to her.

- Who is she? Well, I mean... What was she to him?

Marga hesitated, but by my insistent look she said:

"They were almost lovers." Almost because Kaan never made anything official.

- He was engaged to me... - She nods.

We returned to our starting position and I drank some more.

Time passed and I was already suffocated by Veronica's gaze. It wasn't an ordinary look, it was more of anger. I excused myself at the table and got up. Kaanadan watched me but I didn't hesitate to wait if she released me, in a way I wasn't asking for her permission.

I straightened my dress and walked into a hallway, where Marga told me was the bathroom.

I was nervous, especially after most of the guests had already figured out that I was Kaanadan's fiancée. And now I see that it surprises many not to be Veronica. I enter the enclosed space and breathe a sigh of relief. I look in the mirror and I'm so tense my face looks red.

I fix my hair and wet my hands in order to quell the nervousness. The door opens and I soon see Veronica behind me.

It was just what I needed...

"You look tense." Some problem? — The blonde looks at me and I look at her through the reflection of the mirror.

"None..." I turn to her, drying my hands on a paper towel.

“I'm sorry for staring at you all the time. It's just that it's still weird knowing that Kaanadan is getting married. You know how it is.

I sit down and try not to look uncomfortable, but Veronica is no help. She approaches, being taller than me, she lowers her head to look at me.

"Just take it easy with Kaanadan, I know about your rules and well..." She lowered until her mouth was at my ear and her voice bordered on a whisper. "He's not usually very gentle when it comes to fucking a woman...

I swallowed hard and stared at her. - Thank you for the warning.

She smiled sweetly and I headed for the door, but I turned around and looked at her over her shoulders. — Oh! And I'm sorry that you're not Kaanadan's bride.

She scowled and I left, nervous enough to talk nonsense and already regret it.

As if I felt very happy to be the bride...

I walked down a corridor to part of the place and soon I felt a warm temperature next to me. I just turned my face and already saw Kaanadan.

“I wasn't going to run away. - I say keeping calm my nervousness.

"You wouldn't dare, but I need you to fake an engagement well."

I glared at him and he didn't hesitate to do the same. Again his gaze bothered me enough that I cut my gaze from his and glanced to the side.

- Not my fault. People stare at me like I'm the new addition to their women's shop. - I say and sure not to sound irritated. — Did you see how that Veronica killed me with her eyes? There's no reason for such anger and she already wanted to cut my neck.

"No reason?" Kaanadan grabbed my chin and made me look at him. I looked at his cheek, fearing his eyes. - Look at my eyes.

I looked at him and my breath hitched. “No reason. This marriage is a sham, you know that.

“What makes you think it's a fake, Celeste?

His blue eyes completely invade my field of vision. A cold, indecipherable, unfamiliar look. It scared me, making me almost gasp for air.

- Answer me.

"You'll only marry me so you don't lose a war."

"And after we win the war, we're going to part ways?" - Nego, fearing when your body approaches mine. “Then it's not a hoax.

His body is almost glued to mine, my back freezes against the stone wall and I feel my breathing is heavy and almost invisible. My head is up, while Kaanadan's is down. Her torso can almost feel against mine, and I swallow hard at the unexpected proximity. Her face gets closer and I hold my breath and look for escape.

I touch his shoulder to push him, I feel his hand on my waist to hold me, and as soon as I close my eyes in terrible fright, I feel his warm breath on my ear. — Your fear is your worst enemy.

He pulls away inches and I swallow hard, panting as I glare at him. Angry even at me for not giving her a nice kick between her legs.

"So what's this whole game for?" What does Kaanadan want? - For the first time in his presence, I look at him in challenge and similarity to his intimidating posture.

"Don't look at me with disgust." It will make it difficult for me if you always look at me with fear. Not even kissing you, I could do it. - His lips are almost glued to mine, while his eyes are still staring at me.

"Then maybe I should look at you on your wedding night." It would be great for me.

Kaanadan gives a slight curve to his lips, looking at me amusedly.

“Well now, Celeste, then I'd take you from behind and not see your eyes. It would be great for me.

I looked at him startled and he touched his thumb to my lips. I held myself back from biting them.

“Stop looking at me with fear. I'm kidding. I'm not a monster.

- It is not? Did the Death Knight come because he was at the circus?

His finger left my lips and his arm drew me closer to him. "I've waited five years, I don't mind five days...

“Let's see if it's only five days…” I say and his gaze locks onto mine. “And no, I'm not kidding.

“Don't challenge me, Celeste.

“Then don't freak me out, Kaanadan.

I turn away and head inside. “I want to go away.