XXIX. Give in to Me

Elva could not sleep that night.

Nor the four nights that followed. She would lay wide eyed beside Agnar as he slept soundly, as if nothing had happened between them.

Each night, he would do the same thing to her, and he would repeat it every morning. Her body would always respond, and she began to resent the feelings that prickled her stomach.

Each time she would catch Agnar looking at her, her cheeks would blush red and that familiar tingle would ignite between her legs. She hated it.

Not to mention that Eksel was gone.

Or at least it felt like he was. She had not laid eyes on him in five days. Five long and terrible days.

On the sixth day, the sun had begun to rise and she breathed heavily.

Agnar’s hardness dug into her lower back, his arm tight around her waist while his other hand remained buried between her legs, and his fingers circled her clit.

She had stopped trying to fight him, knowing that the faster she orgasmed, the sooner he would leave her alone for the day.

He never forced her to please him, though he slept naked beside her and she knew he got off on the way her body resentfully responded to his touch.

She trembled and he pushed closer to her, burying her beneath his body.

“That’s it, let it come,” He whispered, running his tongue across the shell of her ear.

Attempting to create space between them, she buried her face into the skins on the bed, closing her eyes tightly.

Imagining Eksel’s touch stopped working days ago. It only fueled her anger. It only fueled her rage.

*He left her.*

Agnar pressed a single digit inside her and she whimpered, her legs trembling.

“That’s it,” He grunted, thrusting against her back.

She bit into her arm, silencing her cries just as her body shook with her climax.

Her body no longer felt like her own, it no longer listened to her pleas, it only responded to Agnar’s manipulation.

Agnar grunted behind her, pressing a hot kiss to her neck before standing from the bed. He dressed as Elva tucked her legs under her arms.

“Your father will get here today.”

Elva tensed. How could she face her father after everything? She slowly sat up, wrapping her arms around herself in a protective embrace.

“We will wed tomorrow.”

She pressed her lips together, keeping her unfocused gaze on the fireplace in front of her. She refused to cry in front of him, but her body shook with the sob in her chest. After the wedding there would be no escape. Silence followed and Agnar stood by the door, watching her carefully.

“This would be much easier on you if you just gave in, Elva,” He whispered.

“Gave in to what?” She whispered, her brows beginning to frown.

“To me.”

She grimaced, a scowl creasing her cheeks. Her hazel eyes lifted to his, her gaze criss crossing the length of his body.

Gently, she shook her head,” I won’t, you must know that.”

He narrowed his eyes, his nostrils flaring, “We’ll see.”

The door slammed behind him and Elva finally released a shuddering breath. The room was warm from the fire, but an iciness in her blood had her shivering. Meena came in minutes later and helped her bathe and prepare to receive her father, but when it came time to go, Elva refused.

“Come, now, don’t tell me you will spend all day in your room? You’re father is arriving today.”

Rage, fear, and shame twisted Elva’s stomach, “I do not want to go.”

Meena frowned.

Elva only tightened her arms around her waist and shook her head. Facing her father was the last thing she wanted to do. If he even was her father.

“I’ll let Agnar know,” Meena muttered under her breath as she left.

As soon as she was alone, she dropped herself on the edge of the bed. Her hair was still damp from the bath, and her toes were ice cold.

How was she supposed to face her father? Had he come alone or was her uncle with him?

She closed her eyes and calmed her breathing, willing herself to take it easy and just get it over with.

She heard the door open and expected to see Agnar standing in the way, but she opened her eyes and gasped.

Eksel stepped inside.

Elva quickly stood from the bed, stepping away from him while looking around the room in a panic.

Guiltily, she peered over to the bed, where just an hour ago Agnar had touched her.

He followed her gaze, pursing his lips before stepping toward her.

She stepped back, her eyes shifting to the ground.

Eksel inhaled slowly, his mind racing in his head.

“Please, go,” She whispered.

He watched her, noticing the slight tremble on her lips. Watching as her throat moved with her heavy swallow. She pressed her hands together, rubbing them until they turned red. With nostrils flaring and hands tight in fists, he stepped toward her again.

She exhaled a broken sob, stepping backward again. She didn’t want him, not now, not after everything.

His chest expanded with a final, controlled breath before his glare hardened with rage. Why was she stepping away from him? He expected her anger. What he had not expected was her fear. He was hear to say a final goodbye before her wedding. To offer her all the apologies in the world. But she stepped away from him as if she did not know him at all.

She shifted her gaze to the bed again and her body shivered uncomfortably. His blood boiled as realization ran through him.

“He touched you,” He growled.

Not a question, because he knew. She covered her mouth with her hand, silencing her whimpers. Yes, he had touched her. And she had reached her climax many times. She felt dirty, used and could not handle Eksel’s gaze.

His muscles tensed.

“You did not want him to,” He snarled.

She snapped her eyes to his, rage evident in her crumpled brows. Was he asking her?

Her nostrils flared. No, she did not want him to.

“Did you?” He whispered hesitantly.

The question had her seeing red, and before she could stop herself she slapped him across the face. A gasp left her, shock running through her before her resolve broke, sending tears streaming down her face. Her hand burned from the contact but all she wanted to do was hit him again.

Eksel’s hardened gaze softened and he kneeled before her.

“I’m sorry,” He whispered.

He reached for her but she recoiled from him, drawing her hands to her chest.

“Where have you been? I needed you,” She gritted.

“I’m sorry,” He pleaded, unaware that his hands were reaching for her again.

“Please. Please don’t touch me,” She shook her head.

He nodded stiffly, standing to step away

The sight had her chest aching, it had her struggling to breathe.

Eksel always listened.

Agnar never did.

“I didn’t want him to. I promise,” She felt the need to offer him something, to let him know she still cared. That she still wanted him. It was the only thing that still made her feel like herself, even if it was accompanied by rage.

He shushed her softly, his eyes following the curves of her face.

“I promise.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s mine,” He shook his head as he whispered.

“You left,” She whined, letting her eyes bury themselves in his.

The look she gave him was harsh and he did all he could to not crumple beneath it.

“I-I can’t give you what you want,” He whispered.

“What?”

“I can’t keep you safe. I can’t keep your people safe. Your father.”

They’ve had this conversation before and yet it felt like she was realizing the truth all over again. Her chest caved, her heart slammed against her chest.

“I have to marry him, don’t I?”

He grimaced. Silence followed, only accompanied by their labored breathing.

“I think my uncle is my father,” She blurted. She needed to change the conversation. If she thought about Agnar's touch for one more second, she would disintegrate into nothing.

Besides, the new infomration about her uncle had been eating her alive for the past week, and it was part of the reason for her numbness, getting it off her chest felt liberating.

Eksel recoiled, his mind wandering to every conversation they’ve had on the topic.

“That’s not surprising,” He murmured.

Her eyes watered, “My mother was pregnant before my father. I-”

He watched her, urging her to continue.

“I don’t know how to feel about it. But it makes sense.”

“How?” He frowned.

“My uncle seemed more distressed at the idea of me being sent off to wed than my own father. I didn’t understand it then.”

His eyes widened and he took a step back toward the door.

“You’re uncle?”

Elva nodded and frowned, “Where are you going?”

He pursed his lips, his eyes softening as he looked over her, “I have to do something.”

“Now?”

He reached for her, stopping when she recoiled slightly.

“I’m sorry it took me so long,” He whispered.

“For what?”

“Don’t lose hope on me yet.”

He stepped out of the room and closed the door behind him, leaving Elva confused and with more questions than answers.