“Darling,” the Count said, his eyes softening as he looked at Mina. “I understand you are new to all of this. You know not what you see before you. But I assure you, this is the necessary way of things.” He reached out toward her, and she slapped hishand away, hot anger flaring through her. He stilled, taking his hand back. His voice was calm and cold as he said, “Your sister needed to learn a lesson. Never to touch what is mine.”
“What isyours?” Mina asked, her voice laced with disgust.
“Yes,” he said firmly. “You are my wife. As such, no one may touch you but me.”
Nausea crashed through her stomach. “I am not your property,” she hissed. “I am not yours to own or possess.”
A smile spread across the Count’s face, and her stomach twisted at the sight.
“All in this castle is mine,” he said, gesturing around them. “Look out that window,” the Count said, pointing to the pane next to him. “All you see—the land, the predators, the prey. All of it is mine.”
Mina flicked a glance toward the desk, where the redhead and the blonde stood now, hoping for someone to say something, anything. But it was clear none of them would dispute him. How was it possible that these women, who had shown themselves to be monsters with deadly strength and sharp fangs, had submitted to this one man?
“And this is how you care for that which belongs to you?” Mina asked. “You harm them?” Her voice rose. “This is how you treat yourwives?”
A howl cut through the silence and Mina flinched, looking out into the darkness. Another wolf joined the first, and soon the howls grew louder, fiercer. A chill ran down Mina’s spine.
“Only the ones who need punishment,” he said. His eyes did not stray from her, and she could feel it, feel the way he was daring her to defy him.
“Punishment?” she spat out. “Who are you to punish them? You are no God.”
“Ah, my dear, that is where you’re wrong.” He stepped even closer to her, his movements languid, as though he were completely at ease. She couldn’t help but think of a predator who knew his prey had nowhere to run, no way to find safety. “In these mountains, I am God. And you will treat me as such.”
Her heart thrummed in her chest, and the realization spilled through her—she was afraid of her husband. The man who she had slowly grown to know over these few weeks. The man who had only ever shown her kindness and gentleness.
But then she thought of the night of the raid, the night he had convinced her was all a dream.
“If that is so, why did those men attack the castle?”
He stilled, and Mina knew she had said the wrong thing. But in another way, it had been the right thing. The thing to truly unsettle him.
After several moments of silence, he said firmly, “Leave.” Mina swallowed, hesitating for only a moment before she took a step. He reached out, halting her path. He didn’t even look at her when he said, “Not you.”
The women began to move. Clarimonde slipped out of the door first, timid like a beaten dog. Ligeia slowly walked pastthem, as though waiting to see if he would stop her too, but he did not. Mina watched as the dark-haired woman carried on toward the door without looking back. It was only the blonde who paused, watching them.
Another moment passed, and the blonde left the room as well, but her eyes were stuck on Mina’s the entire way until she disappeared from view.
“You forced the priest to perform our ceremony,” Mina said. She thought back to the raider’s mention of the priest, his question as to the man’s whereabouts. But now that she knew this, that the Count already had three wives, it made sense. “He wouldn’t have done so willingly. Because he knew you were already married.”
A slow smile crept across the Count’s lips. “I’ve always known there was something special about you, Wilhelmina. It was obvious from the first time I saw you.”
Mina paused, considering the words. He’d almost spoken as though he’d known her for some time. “Then how did you possibly think I’d agree to this?” she asked.
The Count exhaled slowly, reaching a hand up to her cheek. She tried to pull it away but he grasped her fingers, holding them there between them painfully tight. “What a strong spirit you have,” he said. “Such a shame I shall have to break it.”
He released her, walking past her into the center of the room.
“Don’t you see, darling? I don’t need your agreement.” His eyes were fixed on hers, his voice pleasant as he called out, “Oh, Sofia.” Footsteps sounded down the hall, and Sofia appeared in the doorway.
“Yes, master?”
Mina furrowed her brows, her body stiff with fear.
Without even turning around to face the woman, the Count said, “Come here, and get on your hands and knees.”
Sofia hesitated for only a moment before she walked nearer. “Yes, master.” She lowered herself onto the stone floor.
“Sofia, don’t,” Mina said.
