Desire Over Blood

"What are you planning, brother?" I asked, feeling scared as they got closer. My heart raced, and I could feel a cold sweat trickling down my back.

Then Brother Jax smiled evilly and said, "Well, sister of mine, what do you think will happen to you, since there are three of us and only one of you?"

The others behind him chuckled, their footsteps echoing in the silence of the hallway. I tried to steady my breath, but the tension was unbearable.

I could see the gleam in their eyes, and I knew they were enjoying my fear. Jax took a step forward, his grin widening as he reached out, almost as if to taunt me. "You're alone, sister," he murmured, "and you're outnumbered."

Despite my growing dread, I stood my ground, determined not to show them how terrified I truly was.

"Don't," was all I could manage to say as my brother and his friends descended upon me.

I pushed them away, but all they did was laugh at my attempt to fight back. The sound of their mocking laughter echoed in my ears, making my heart race even faster.

My hands trembled, but I clenched my fists, refusing to back down. I couldn't let them see how much they were scaring me.

Then my brother Jaz said, "Jake and El, take hold of my sister and don't let her go." I felt their hands grab my arms, their grip tightening as they restrained me, and my stomach twisted.

Jax walked closer to me and started to touch my face, and said, "You know I have been waiting to do this to you sister Annika."

He then took step forward and started to rip her clothes off piece by piece as if opening a twisted kind of gift to himself. I screamed and struggled as hard as I could. 

Someone grabbed Jax from his shirt and threw him back away from me. I saw King Leo and he was not happy to see what was happening and he said, "Let her go or you will lose your manhood." 

Neither of them let go of me, and with that, King Leo became angry. His aura made it hard to breathe, even for me; it felt as if a great pressure was being exerted on my lungs.

Brother Jax struggled to stand and glared at Leo, trying to draw his sword. But all he managed, before running out of breath, was to place his hand on the hilt.

Leo then took a step closer, reached out to grab Jax's neck, and said, "How dare you try to force yourself on her? You're lucky I don't force others on you—or worse!"

Jax's eyes widened in fear, but he didn't break eye contact with Leo. His chest heaved, and he was struggling to find his voice.

"You won't get away with this," he rasped, though his words lacked conviction. Leo's grip tightened, and for a moment, it seemed as if the entire room held its breath. The air was thick with tension, and the weight of Leo's anger was unbearable.

I watched, heart pounding, knowing that any wrong move could ignite a dangerous confrontation.

Despite the immense pressure in the room, I couldn't help but wonder what Leo would do next.

I took a step close towards them and put my hand on his arm, said, "King Leo, don't do anything to him. If you do, you might cost a war." 

King Leo removed his hand from my brother Jax's neck and said in a cold, chilling voice, "You will understand that making an example out of these three will show everyone that you shall not be messed with as long as I am your future husband!"

His eyes burned with a relentless fury, as if daring anyone to challenge his authority. The air around us grew thick with tension, and I could feel my heart race in my chest. Jax gasped for breath, struggling to find his voice.

His face was pale, and he glanced at me, his eyes pleading for help.

I stepped forward, trying to steady my trembling hands. "Please, King Leo," I said, my voice barely above a whisper, "There must be another way. We don't have to resort to violence."

But Leo's expression only hardened, his gaze flicking toward me like a blade. "They didn't show you any mercy when you beg for them to stop!" he sneered. "You think pleading will change anything?"

The silence in the room grew unbearable, and I could feel the weight of his words pressing down on me, suffocating any hope of finding a peaceful resolution. 

"I do it because I don't want you to get hurt." I stared into his deep grey eyes, which revealed a hatred toward my brother and his friends.

His eyes softened for a moment, then hardened again as he said, "Someone needs to teach them a lesson, Annika."

I could feel the tension rising in the air, like a storm about to break. His words hung heavily between us, and though his expression was cold, I could see the fire burning behind his gaze.

I wanted to argue, to tell him that violence wasn't the answer, but the look on his face made me hesitate.

"Don't you see?" he continued, his voice low and intense. "They think they can get away with anything.

They need to understand there's a price to pay for their actions." I swallowed hard, my heart pounding in my chest.

The decision he was about to make could change everything.

That was when I heard footsteps approaching from behind us, and King Leo's voice rang out, sharp and accusatory.

"King Amegas, it seems you can't keep your son in check from forcing himself on others! Should I discipline him myself, or will you finally deal with this pathetic prince's behavior as you should?"

Father glanced at me, then at my brother Jax, before turning his gaze back to King Leo.

His voice was steady but commanding as he said, "King Leo, you should know better than to touch my son or his friends. Let them breathe freely. You wanted my daughter—take her and leave."

King Leo smirked, placing a hand possessively around my waist. "I would gladly take your daughter away from here," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance.

"But tell me something first, King Amegas—are you seeking war with me? Because what your son tried to do to my future wife could have sparked a conflict with my kingdom!"

His grip tightened, and his eyes gleamed with malice, as though daring my father to respond.

The tension between the two men was palpable, and I could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on me.

My heart raced, my thoughts swirling. This was no longer just a matter of family—this was about power, control, and survival.

Father stood still, his face a mask of cold resolve, though I could see the fury flickering behind his eyes.

"You underestimate me, Leo," he said, his voice calm yet sharp as a blade. "If you think I would bow to threats, you're gravely mistaken."

"That was not a threat, King Amegas. It was simply an attempt to inform you of what transpired, and now I ask: Do you intend to correct what has happened?" Leo said, his tone calm, though a hint of rage simmered behind his eyes.

The room was thick with tension, the silence almost suffocating, as Leo's piercing gaze fixed unyieldingly on the king. 

"What happened that made you so angry, King Leo?" King Amegas asked, a slight hint of satisfaction in his voice as he watched the other king's fury.

King Leo growled, his voice low and menacing. "Don't you see? Your daughter's clothes are torn—courtesy of her brother and his friends!" His fists clenched at his sides as his eyes locked onto the king. "How can you stand there, so smug, while your own blood is being treated like this?"

King Amegas' smile faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered, his gaze turning cold. "What are you implying, Leo? That I should punish my own son without question?"

"Yes," Leo snapped. "A father's first duty is to protect his children, even from their own mistakes. If you truly cared, you'd see the truth for what it is."

The room grew silent, the weight of Leo's words hanging heavy in the air, as King Amegas slowly stepped forward, his face a mask of barely contained rage.

"That's a perfect idea, King Leo," said King Amegas sarcastically. "I shall discipline my own son and his friends according to the laws of this country."

He continued, his voice dripping with disdain, "How about I punish my daughter Annika for disrespecting her elders, King Leo? Would that please you even more?"

He stepped closer, his eyes narrowing. "Perhaps you would also like to dictate how I rule my kingdom, as if your opinion matters more than my own judgment."

A bitter laugh escaped his lips, his tone growing colder. "It's amusing how quickly you forget your place when you sit so comfortably on your throne, far from the realities I face."

King Leo stood in front of me and said, "Touch her, and you will make the biggest mistake of your life."

His eyes were fierce, warning me of the gravity of his words. King Amegas began to laugh, a low, dark chuckle that echoed in the room, and added, "Don't worry, I won't touch my daughter, since she belongs to you now. All I have to say is, it's time for you to leave, and make sure you keep your end of the deal."

He turned away, motioning toward the door with an air of finality.

I stood there, my heart racing, unsure of what was expected of me. The weight of their words hung heavy in the air.

With a deep breath, I stepped forward, my resolve hardening. As I walked toward the exit, I could feel their eyes on me, both silent and filled with unspoken threats.

 The true test was only just beginning.