Page 123 of Captive Ruin

“What a happy occasion,” he begins, “and such a lovely couple.”

Amelia scoffs, loud enough to make him pause, and I have to turn my head away to hide my smile.

We’re not even married and she has me smiling more.

“Uh, right.” McKinnon checks his notes like he’s forgotten who we are, then clears his throat. “We are gathered here today to join Lukas and Amelia in marriage.”

She stiffens beside me, face pale.

“If there is any person here who knows of any reason why these two should not be joined in marriage, speak now, or forever hold your peace.”

Amelia presses her lips together, her hand tightening on my arm. She sways slightly, then corrects herself.

Bastien is quiet, standing behind me. Jorge and one of Bastien’s security loiter at the back, and McKinnon glances at them before continuing.

“Lukas, do you take Amelia to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward?”

“I do.” A hundred times, I do. My heart swells; this feels so right, like the last piece of a puzzle clicking into place, or the light in the midst of an eternally dark life.

“Amelia, do you take Lukas to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward?”

She freezes beside me. Her throat jerks as she swallows. She glances away, then back at McKinnon, lips working as though she’s about to speak. But she doesn’t.

“Amelia?” McKinnon prods.

“I…” She closes her eyes, takes a slow breath, then opens them again. “I…”

“…do,” I murmur quietly. “Be a good girl.”

She shivers from head to toe, like a cold gust of wind ran beneath that tight dress she’s wearing, and then she braces. It’s anger; I can see it in the way her eyes flash.

“I don’t.”

That’ll be a spanking later.

“Thank you,” McKinnon says. “If you have rings, please exchange them now.”

Bastien steps forward on cue, giving me a small black box.

“Didn’t you hear me?” Amelia demands. “I said I don’t. I do not agree to marry this… this… asshole.”

I pull out the rose-gold wedding band I had prepared; it matches her engagement ring. “We’ve been over this,” I say quietly, taking her hand. She stares at me, unresisting as I slide the ring onto her finger, pushing it up against the other. “Your sister, remember? Love will come, remember?”

“What the fuck did you do, Van Wyk?” she bites out. “Did you blackmail a goddamn judge?”

“Bribed, actually,” I admit, as McKinnon looks uncomfortable and pulls at his collar. “But blackmail is the backup if it’s needed.”

“By the power vested in me… by the State of New York,” McKinnon sputters, “I now pronounce you… uh… husband and wife.” He scrawls his name on the marriage license, dropping the pen in his rush to be gone, already heading for a side door.

“And I get to kiss the bride,” I say, pulling her in close with an arm around her waist.

Amelia struggles against me, rearing back to slap my face. I catch her wrist, forcing it behind her and using it to hold her still. She gives a pained gasp, her body shuddering beautifully.

“You’re mine now,” I tell her softly. “I know part of you doesn’t want this, but I also know part of you does.”

“You’re wrong,” she hisses. “None of me wants this.”

“Really?” I squeeze her wrist enough to remind her of my hold. “I know what happens when I pin you down. Shall I check if you’re wet?”