TW: Contains scenes which depict physical and emotional abuse

"Th-there has to be some kind of mistake!" Anise pleaded with her father as he hauled her across the lawn towards the house. "Why would he want me?!" 

"Why indeed," her father said between gritted teeth. 

Violet hurried after them, but Kalina held her back, shaking her head. 

No no no no... Anise felt tears welling in her eyes. "Please, I had nothing to do with this. I don't know--" 

The front doors opened quickly, servants out of breath as they pulled them open. 

Baron Melliere strode through them, his grip on his ward's arm like iron. She stumbled after him, struggling to keep up with her uneven steps. When she nearly fell, he did not stop. Pulling her roughly to her feet, he marched her directly to his office.

As he slammed the door shut, he threw her away from him. She just barely caught herself on a table. 

"You have made a mockery of this entire event," her father started. "You've ruined your sister's proposal, Sir Lawrence's inheritance--" 

"Please, my lord, I didn't do anything!" 

"Do not interrupt me!" 

The slap made her teeth clack together. 

"When did you plan this?" 

Anise willed the stinging tears in her eyes not to fall. 

"I asked you a question!" 

"We-- I didn't! I never spoke to him until today!" 

"Liar! Everyone saw you flirting with him when he came for his favor. Were you laughing at our family then, too?" 

"No! It... It was just--"

It didn't matter what she said or what answers she gave. 

It never mattered. 

Anise retreated into her mind, willing herself to ignore the pain in her body as he struck her. At least my cane is in my room, she thought. And he's getting weaker in his old age.

"At least one good thing will come of this. When you're married," the Baron spat the word. "I will finally be rid of you."

Anise lay on her bed in the darkness. It doesn't hurt to breathe. It's just bruising this time. I will be alright. 

She comforted herself with those words, repeated like a mantra. It was all she could say to quiet the other thoughts. 

Sir Linden can break me in half with one hand. How am I going to survive him? And why me? I will inherit no title, and if he wanted money, he could have asked for it instead. 

The wedding would be the following day. A rushed affair. The Baron must truly want to be rid of me... 

There would be no wedding party, no dress or cake or dancing. Anise had never been one of those girls who planned every detail of her wedding day long before it happened, but... I'd still hoped it would be special. Or at least that I'd marry someone kind. A man who I could grow to love. 

She felt hot tears in her eyes and gave her head a shake. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. The knights are leaving before the week is up. Survive him until then, and then... 

If I'm lucky, he won't come back.

Linden Dathis' reputation had always been bad. She'd heard the whispers and stories. Before, they were an object of curiosity, something to gasp at like a far-away thrilling adventure. But now, every horrifying detail was keeping her awake.

His mother was from the North, the wild, uncharted territories that seemed to constantly pick fights along their borders. Their people were notorious for their red hair, rough clothing, fierce fighting abilities, and tenacious ability to survive in the worst environments. While people mocked Northerners for being uncultured "savages," they were also afraid of them. 

The land in the North was a mountain range known for its harsh blizzards and treacherous terrain. There were very few paths through the mountains that were safe enough for travelers, and rumor has it that even those few roads are riddled with Northern bandits. 

The stories say that Linden Dathis' father was a giant. Or... a troll. Maybe an ogre. It seemed to vary with each version of the story. Anise never actually believed that part of the rumors. It seemed like nonsense made up by people who were terrified of his height and strength. 

Maybe Northerners are just... like that, Anise had thought. It's not like she'd ever really seen one before.

She'd heard stories of his fighting abilities, and even seen him train when they were younger and spied on the boys to look for Sir Lawrence. She tried to sift through her memories, remember what he was like...

The first time Anise saw him, she assumed he was a man, not a boy. It wasn't until their trainer ordered them to line up for a drill that she realized. He towered over the other boys and swung his practice weapon so hard, Anise could see the dust rising off the training dummies from across the lawn. 

Anise punched at her pillow, trying to get comfortable enough to sleep.

I've survived Father's wrath for twenty years.. Surely I can find a way to survive this Northern brute. 

I have to.