Seraphina’s face contorted in wrath as she turned around. “Who the hell...” Her eyes grew wide at the sight of that stranger with long, black hair, standing, holding the door, and her words got caught when she recognized him, his blue eyes wide in his pale face. “Marius...” It was just a whisper, and she jumped off the man in her bed, quickly hugging the covers to her breasts.
A cold sweat broke down Marius’ back when he recognized Titus in the sheets, the other man looking at him as if seeing a ghost, but Marius’ shock quickly turned to anger, Seraphina watching in alarm as his face darkened, that familiar blaze in his blue eyes searing into her.
She quickly tried to compose herself. “Marius... you’re alive... we thought you were dead...” She faked a smile, smoothing her hair back. “Oh, gods... but you’re here... this is wonderful... I was so worried...”
Tears welled up in her eyes and Marius felt a cool calm wash over him as he pushed the words out. “Get the fuck out of my house…”
Titus rose then, thinking it was directed at him, and decided not to speak, not to make matters worse. He started dressing, and Seraphina continued talking to Marius. “This is nothing, love... we were just having a bit of fun... I mean, I am... was technically a widow... but you’re absolutely right... he should go now...”
Marius looked at her, his eyes cold. “Get the fuck out of my house... have you not heard me?”
Titus froze, and Seraphina looked at Marius, not understanding. “But... he’s leaving...”
“Yes... he’s leaving, and so are you.”
Seraphina blanched. “What? You can’t throw me out of my house...”
“This is not your house.” Marius looked at Titus. “You fucked her? You can take her away... in fact, you are doing me a huge favor.”
“Marius...”
“No... spare me your lies. Get out.”
Seraphina got up, clutching the covers to her, her face contorted in rage. “You have no right to storm in here after a year and throw me out! I’m your wife! The mother of your child!”
Marius looked at her, cool. “I am divorcing you, wife. Now, get dressed, and leave with your lover.”
“No!” Seraphina screamed, and Marius backhanded her, hard, sending her to the ground. Titus was there in an instant, holding her, Marius’ face impassive. “This was long deserved, you, lying whore. Now get out. I won’t say it again. If you don’t leave, I’ll kill you, and you know I have the right to.”
Titus knew and started pulling her up.
Kyle arrived at this instant, alarmed by the shouting, and he stopped short behind Marius, his eyes wide.
Seraphina wiped her mouth, her eyes blazing with anger. “I’ll go. Get my child. I’m not leaving her behind.”
Marius’ lips curled up into an evil smile. “Oh yes, you are. She is my daughter, and as her father, I have the right to keep her with me.”
She paled, holding onto Titus. “You have no right... you can’t...” But she knew he had, and her tears flowed, even if she hadn’t cared about the little girl at all, not even naming her, or spending any time with her. She was not that easily defeated though, and she let the covers go, dressing, pulling on her clothes, spitting the words. “Fine! I’m leaving! But I’ll be back! I’m not going into a divorce!” She stood in front of Marius, her cheek darkening with the blow. “Send my clothes to my parents’ house. Thais!” She screamed the girl’s name, and she came running, her face filled with fear. “We are leaving, Thais... come!”
She grabbed her hand, but Marius swatted hers away, making her hiss in pain. “The girl stays, she’s mine. Get out.”
Seraphina watched him, disbelieving. “She’s my slave...”
“Nothing is yours in this house. Nothing. Now, get out before I choke you to death.”
She understood then, looking into his eyes, filled with madness and wrath, and left with Titus, her head high.
Marius walked them down to the door, making sure they were gone, banging it shut.
He turned to Kyle, his eyes filled with hurt, shame, anger and the young man laced his arms around him, his breath on his neck. “I love you...”
Marius held him tight, fighting his tears, when his eyes went to Melissa, slowly approaching with the stunning one-year-old toddler on her arm, the little girl’s dark eyes framed with jet-black bouncy curls, all the way down to her shoulders. Marius froze, and let Kyle go, walking cautiously closer, the little girl shy, her knuckle in her mouth, her head pressed against Melissa’s neck.
Melissa’s eyes were full of tears as she spoke softly to her. “This is daddy. He's back.”
Marius’ eyes filled with tears, but he didn’t dare touch the child. Slowly, the little girl’s head perked up and, curious, she reached her hand towards his gleaming blue eyes. Melissa let her go, his powerful arms lifting the toddler up, her soft little hands going for those eyes, then grabbing his long, silky hair. She smiled then, trying to catch the tears spilling down his cheeks. He hugged her softly, and she played with his hair, tugging the strands in her fists, making him grin wide, her fingers going to his teeth, poking, laughing.
Kyle watched them, floored, seeing Marius melt inside, holding her up by her body and making her whirl, the little girl giggling wildly, her laughter like pearls. Marius fell in love with her in an instant, a fierce instinct of protection rising in him, and he looked at Kyle and the slaves.
