Abby's POV
(A month ago)
I tried not to look at him but it was impossible with his gaze focused on me.
It made me feel a certain way, I can't describe how.
Abbott confuses me….was he an ally or was he a foe?
Was he the man who kissed me senseless in a garden igniting feelings I didn't know I was capable of feeling or was he the man who had me kidnapped and stabbed without batting an eyelid?
He just confuses me…. especially his eyes, one second I see kindness in them black eyes and next second, I see a beast.
But whomever he was, good or bad…I wanted to be as far away from him as humanly possible.
Abbott terrified me.
I tried to walk upright like Nanny Josie taught me and that on its own was difficult without the added 'you are dead' gaze Abbott had on me. His gaze burned a hole at the back of my neck.
Breathe, Abby…breathe!
I took a whiff of deep breath and I fixed my gaze on Prince Markle.
His presence and ever gentle smile calmed me in an instant.
When I finally made my way to the king's presence, Abbott's presence blurred. I believe his father made me even more nervous than his son.
"Your Majesty" l curtsied before the King and I waited for his proclamation.
My eyes sort for Markle but it fell on Abbott, this time around he looked away.
Lady Beth was standing by the corner with her ladies in waiting and Sir Bastian stood by Abbott, only Markle stood on his own in his golden thread tunic and his…crown.
It was the first time I was seeing him in his ceremonial regalia and crown.
My attention went to the king when he gestured for silence and just like that the entire hall became as he had ordered.
He stood up.
I took the chance to look around. Most of his high ranking knights were in attendance and only one stood out, the knight seemed to be wearing his face shield inside the king's court. I gave no more thoughts to it as the king began his speech.
"People of Zurich, today is indeed a great day. A Raven will keep his word and a decision has been made concerning the future of the royal household. So, therefore…let it be known that Abigail of House Spencer shall be welcomed into the royal household…"
I turned and looked at Markle and he smiled reassuringly at me.
Like me, he couldn't wait a second longer to be tied to each other, to love each other for the rest of our lives.
"....By my decree, Abigail of House Spencer, daughter of Baltimore Spencer will be wedded to one of my heirs…Prince Abbott, Duke of Steinfeld!"
I smiled but then I stopped.
Sorry, what?
"Grandfather!" Markle yelled.
I could see he noticed the error on the king's part which would be rectified in a few seconds. I took a step closer to the king, rules be damned to whisper.
"Your Majesty, you said Prince Abbott instead of Markle, you shouldn't feel bad. Even the best of us make mistakes, if you could just…"
The king completely ignored me and looked at his grandson.
"You won't marry a Baron's daughter." He whispered before turning to his subjects "Miss Spencer will be wedded to prince Abbott and my decision is final"
"Long reign the king!" Everyone cheered.
I vaguely remember the fact that air left my lungs momentarily as I looked around.
The king walked out into an inner chamber, and Lady Beth had a smirk on her face- the little weasel! Markle looked as betrayed as I was.
Abbott was different. He…stared.
He simply stared at me without showing any visible emotions deciphering to the naked eyes. He followed the path the king took and I followed him.
My heart pounded in my chest, ominous thoughts swarmed at the back of my mind and there was this little voice in my head telling me…. yelling to me that everything was going to hell and it was out of my control.
I tried not to let my fear take the better of me instead I let my anger take over.
I have been stabbed and kidnapped and chased down by a madman but I draw a line at being tied to him for the rest of my life.
I hastened up and caught up with the bloody thirsty prince of darkness eventually.
And all he did was stare, I lost my mind.
"You did this!" My voice was laced with accusation and loathe.
"What exactly are you accusing me of, Miss Spencer?"
"You did this!" I spat out "You did this! This is you in your vengeful ways and your self convinced retribution for my insubordination. I can't believe you would tie me to someone like you to prove a bloody point!"
"Someone like me? You don't know me. And what point would I be making, Abby?"
I wiped the tears on my eyes with the back of my palm.
"Does it matter your highness, someone like you doesn't need an incentive to inflict as much harm and pain to another person! You seem to enjoy it"
He blinked and he stared some more.
What the bloody hell was with him and staring?!
I am here losing my God-damned mind over his actions…over his singular vengeful decision that is going to be the end of me and all he can do is stare at me.
I blinked back tears but it came flooding in anyways, I sniffed back and just like that my fear overpowered my anger.
"Don't do this to me! I am begging you. Don't condemn me to a life with you!"
I saw for the first time as anger flashed through his eyes and it terrified me.
"Why is marriage to me so detestable?"
"It just is, okay?! Why would I want to marry someone so vile ... .? so evil…so you!" I spat out without thinking.
"Because I am pus…an oozing disgusting pus, right? Who would want to be tied to me, am I right?"
I blinked. His words took me back.
"No, I didn't mean that!"
"Then what did you mean?" He said through his gritted teeth.
***
(Now)
Abbott's POV
I watched the girl in front of me. My wolf was on alert. Like he was standing guard ready to act if I tried to shake her or something. Lady Beth words echoed in my head. She had a deal with the king!
"What deal did you make with the king, Abigail?" He asked me. "Because, marriage to me was the worst thing on earth for you and yet a month later, you simply can't wait to move into my bedroom and play the dutiful wife. Speak!"
The fight seemed to drain out of her then.
Her shoulders slumped, and the mask of bravery shattered, revealing the raw exhaustion and hurt underneath. A single tear traced a path down her cheek, and she didn't bother to wipe it away.
She looked at me, her green eyes shimmering with a pain so profound it should have felled me where I stood.
"You think I wanted this?" she whispered, her voice breaking. "You think I dreamed of a husband who looks at me with murder in his eyes? A marriage that feels like a prison sentence?" She poked her hand at my chest. "You think I want to feel this way?! King Aldous Raven did what a Raven does best... He fucking broke me!"
"Abby?" Something in me, simply melted. What is it about her that a single tear disarms me.
"What did he do?"
I took a step closer to her, she looked away. "Nothing you haven't done."
"Abby? Tell me the deal" I tried to touch her cheek, she took a step back.
"I don't owe you anything. Let's not forget, you broke me first"
With that she turned around and walked back into the inner bedroom and slammed the door.
I moved closer to the door. "Abby?"
She didn't answer.