I, Ryat Alexander Archer, had never been bound to someone like I am to her. The ritual allowed me to have power over the chosen one. Over her. Complete power leaving her at my mercy. I made a vow to protect her and I will show anyone who tries to hurt her my own version of hell. I would set the world on fire, including myself, if it means saving her. She wasn't another person to discard like the lords before me did. She was going to be my lady one day. My wife. My partner. Mine to protect, claim, ruin, and cherish. But not when she kept trying to escape when there wasn't any. Not since she had pledged her life to me. I vow. You vow. We vow. She was mine. What she didn't know was I was hers equally. No matter how twisted my desire was.

I grabbed her jaw firmly. Looking into those eyes that have etched themselves on my dark, sinister soul. I didn't deserve heaven. But she was the closest thing to heaven I would ever have. "Just know this, little dove.." I buried my nose in crook of her neck relishing in her scent. In the tremble of fear and desire. "...if you try to run from me, I will find you. And when I do, you will regret the day you left me." I whispered against her neck. Tracing her pulse with my tongue.

"If you thought for one second that I'd let you walk away from me, then I need to remind you who I am... again." Like I always did. Like I always will.

It was a vow. And there was no going back. Not now. Not ever.