But I am also a realist. Even if she attempts her plans, they won’t work out. But the fact that she is willing to try and save me means more than the actual saving.
I give her a look back that tells her thank you but don’t risk it.
She scrunches her nose, but she is not going to listen. She is Lianne, after all.
“I’ll call you.” She raises her voice a little more with that. I know what she is doing, making sure Samuel would hear and give me my phone. “If you need me, I’m a text away.”
“Thank you, Lianne. I’ll talk to you later.” She keeps my hand in hers until she is no longer within reach.
“Thank you for coming,” Samuel says to her as she walks by him to exit.
“Yeah,” she says before disappearing into the hallway.
He is still leaning on the doorframe, watching me. The anger is still plastered on my face.
“Is your tantrum over yet?”
My eyes widen at his remark. “Tantrum? I am sorry...”
“Your path does not change just because you are surprised that your Chosen was me.”
“I was surprised to find out my big brother, the man I looked up to basically my whole life, was always destined to be myhusband.Did you know?” I yell—and I never yell. But the anger that is boiling in my veins is too much to control. He stares at me blankly. “Did you know this whole time?”
My voice breaks slightly this time.
“Why do you think I chose you that day?” He steps into the room, closing the door behind him. “You are my Eden. The Divine had told me so that day.”
“I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want a future husband. I wanted—” My voice cracks. I swallow, but it doesn’t soothe the dryness. “I wanted a brother. I wanted a family. I wanted to be saved so I would feel safe. I didn’t ask for this.” I gesture between us.
“But you love me, and I love you,” he said, rushing to me on the bed. “We have always loved each other. We are the only thing that kept each other going.” I push farther into the bed frame, but he grabs my hands and yanks me next to him. “I love you.” He cups my cheek, and I pull out of it.
“You love me because I’m your sister, Samuel!” I keep my face turned from him.
“I love you because you are my destiny. Just as I am yours.” He brings my hand to his mouth, kissing my knuckles before letting it drop onto the covers. He gets up off of the bed, and I hear him make his way back to the door. “You will learn to not fight this, Eden. I’ll give you time.” He pauses at the threshold. “But you will wed me tomorrow. You can have all the time you need, but you will have it as my wife.”
He closes the door behind him, and the click of the lock sets into place.
I’m shaking again. I grab a pillow and bury my face in it. The hoarseness in my throat spreads through me as I let out a scream into the fabric and cotton filling.
He isn’t going to change his mind.
He isn’t going to let me go.
38
Eden
The morning sun rose, but I haven’t slept. Abigail escorted me from Samuel’s room to my own to prepare for tonight early this morning.
I sit at the same vanity I have had since I could remember. It all looks different, and I can’t put my finger on why.
Abigail just finished brushing my hair and is taking the clothes that are picked out for me on the hangers. I can’t help but wonder why she hasn’t drawn me a bath. I could feel a coat of disgust on me, but maybe that is just me and my emotions.
“I never got to congratulate you on your—”
“There is nothing to congratulate me on,” I say flatly as she helps me into the floor-length skirt. The matching blouseis brought over my head and tucked into the waistband before it’s zipped into place.
“My apologies, miss.”
