Chapter 8

8

S o. Much. Blood… Oh my goodness…

Thalia, though frozen in shock, could barely process the horror of the scene unfolding before her. Finn’s face was a mask of grim satisfaction as he watched Maximilian’s suffering. His gaze remained fixed on the Viscount, his expression a mixture of determination and cold resolve as he leaned in closely.

“This time it was a hand, old man. Lucky that ye have two. The next time ye dare touch her, it will be the last thing ye do.”

Thalia shuddered. Her emotions a tangled mess of fear, anger, and disbelief. The sight of Finn’s violent reaction and Maximilian’s suffering was overwhelming, and she struggled to make sense of the chaos around her.

How could he have done such a thing?

As Maximilian’s screams echoed through the room, Finn’s attention turned back to Thalia. She was suddenly reminded of her own blood on her lips as his face softened slightly though the anger in his eyes was still evident. “Are ye alright?” he asked rhetorically, his voice rough with concern. “Let me see,” he said and tilted her chin up to examine.

Thalia’s voice was barely a whisper as she tried to steady herself. “I’m fine,” she managed to say though the tremor in her voice betrayed her fear. She reached up to touch the spot where her uncle had slapped her, her fingers brushing against the tender skin, but shook her head fervently.

Finn’s gaze remained intense as he took in her appearance, his concern evident despite the harshness of the situation. He brushed the pad of his thumb across her lips but stopped before he reached the spot that had split open. She saw something tender in his eyes that she had not ever seen before and watched as he gestured to Cillian behind him. Moments later, the man returned with a wet rag, and Finn lightly dabbed at her wound. The cool cloth dripped water along her mouth and down her chin, and the sensation gave her gooseflesh as the water slid down her throat. Finn watched as her breath hitched.

Her uncle’s screams pulled them both out of their bubble, and she saw Finn’s face darken once more. “We’re leaving,” he said firmly, his voice brooking no argument. “We cannae stay here any longer. I’ll make sure you are safe.”

Thalia nodded. Her expression was surely the picture of exhaustion, but she was determined to find her sisters. Her eyes darted around the space as Finn led them outside and back into the carriage.

They must have heard their uncle’s cries. Surely.

She leaned out of the carriage, desperate to catch a glimpse of any of them peeking out of the windows, but the glass remained empty. Her heart sank as the horses lurched forward impatiently.

Thalia’s heart raced as they entered the inn, each step resonating with a mix of relief and tension. The heavy wooden door closed behind them with a resounding thud, sealing them away from the chaos they had left behind. Finn’s firm yet gentle grip on her arm was a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within her.

As soon as they were inside the room, Thalia wrenched her arm free from Finn’s hold, her eyes wide with a mix of disbelief and anger. “Let — let go of me!” She stumbled back, her breath coming in ragged bursts.

“What’s this?” he asked, shock registering on his face and then frustration. “What’s gotten into ye?”

“What’s gotten into me? You cannot be serious!”

The comfort of the inn’s warmth felt alien against the icy anger that had taken root in her chest.

How did I allow myself to be lulled into a sense of security? Finn was a monster, just as I always knew him to be.

Finn’s face was a mask of concern as he watched her reaction. He took a cautious step toward her, his voice low and soothing. “Thalia, please, calm down. We need to talk about what just happened.”

“We absolutely need to talk about what just happened and what you just did!”

She was beyond reason with anger. The events of the day — the confrontation with her uncle, the violence, the blood — were all too much for her to process calmly. She felt a storm of emotions raging inside her, each wave crashing against the shore of her sanity. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, and she could feel the sting of them as she blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the flood.

Finn, too, was visibly angry though more in control of his outbursts. His neck was red, brows furrowed, and breathing labored. His brown eyes were almost amber with rage, but he saw right through her struggle and sensed that she had to release the built-up energy, so he twisted his palm open between them, a gesture for her to continue.

“How na?ve I was,” she spat quickly and started pacing, her voice trembling with anger and sorrow. “I thought you were different. I thought you were just a man with a harsh exterior but a good heart. But you’re not. You’re a monster.”

The fireplace light accentuating his haunting scars, a testament to the brutal life he led. She felt foolish that she thought that he would give all that up after he met her and they made their deal.

“Any possible way to shed blood, and of course, you would find it!”

Finn’s eyes darkened as he listened to her accusations. “Thalia, that’s nae fair,” he said, his voice was sharp though pleading. “I did what I had to do to protect you. I dinnae want any of this to happen.” The jagged scar running diagonally across his cheek, stretched and contracted from just below his expressive eyes down to his jawline. Its uneven edges clawed brutally with each pleading word. He disgusted her.

“You didn’t want it? You’re a brute! You live off of this. I saw you! Of course, you wanted it!” she screamed, her voice echoing off the walls of the small room. She took a step toward him, her hands balled into fists. “You — You’re the reason my sisters are gone! You are the reason I’ll never see them again.”

“Thalia, please,” he warned quickly, his anger definitely tempered. “I willnae apologize for protecting ye. Ever. Ye were daft enough to think that that man would ever listen to ye! Let alone give ye your kin. You were and are na?ve.” The marring across his nose shifted as he flared his nose with frustration.

But her anger and grief were too overwhelming. Her fists landed on his chest once. “You were supposed to help me find my sisters!” Twice. “We were supposed to leave together, and now —” She continued to hit him, her hands trembling with the force of her emotions. “Now, they’re gone, and it’s all your fault!”

Finn grabbed her wrists finally, forcing her to stop. His eyes flashed with a fierce, anger as he again wiped the blood from her split lip with a gentle but determined touch. “I wouldnae ever expect ye to spill your blood for me,” he said, his voice low and intense, “much less for that disgusting man, your greedy uncle. Nay one is allowed to hurt ye, nae even for a moment. Ye belong to me now.”

Thalia’s breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening at the raw intensity of his words. For a moment, she was taken aback by the possessive and passionate edge to his voice. Despite her anger and the turmoil in her heart, a strange warmth spread through her at the thought that he valued her so fiercely.

Before she could fully process the emotions swirling within her, Finn’s calloused hands gently cupped her face, and his gaze locked onto hers. “I swore to ye, Thalia,” he said, his tone softer now but still resolute. “And I will nae allow anyone to harm ye. Nae ever.”

Thalia opened her mouth to protest, to voice her fears and doubts, but Finn silenced her with a kiss. His unmarked lips were soft and demanding and fervent, and the intensity of the kiss surprised her. The heat in her core mixed devilishly with her anger, and she shoved her hands against his chest once more before he pinned them between their heaving chests.

Her crazed eyes met his, and for a moment, the air stilled. Then, as Thalia’s initial shock subsided, her body gave way to a reciprocal passion. She pressed against him. It was a challenge that she would not back down from. Her kiss was vicious, a match with his of equal fervor. Their lips moved together in a frenzied dance that spoke volumes about their unspoken emotions. The kiss was a blend of frustration, desire, and the need for connection, a fleeting escape from the chaos that had engulfed them.

When they finally pulled apart, both of them were breathless, their faces flushed with the heat of their emotions. Thalia’s heart was racing, her body trembling from the intensity of their shared moment. She felt a mix of vulnerability and exhaustion, the weight of their predicament pressing heavily on her shoulders.

He stepped away from her, and she felt an intense pressure build in her stomach. “What do we do now?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper, her eyes searching his for answers. She was too tired to fight or argue further, too worn out from the day’s events to maintain her previous anger.

Finn’s hand tenderly caressed her cheek, his touch soothing against her heated skin. “When I spoke of our marriage,” he said softly, “I meant that whatever ye desire, I’ll provide. We’ll find a way to get through this. I promise ye that.”

His words were a balm to her weary soul, a small glimmer of hope in the midst of the darkness. She wanted to believe him, to hold onto the reassurance that they could overcome the obstacles ahead. But her fatigue and the gravity of their situation made it difficult to fully embrace the hope he offered.

Finn stood up, his expression a mixture of determination and care. “Ye need to rest,” he said, his voice gentle but firm. “Get some sleep. We’ll deal with this in the morning.”

As he left the room, Thalia remained behind, her thoughts a tangled mess of emotions.

She sat down on the edge of the bed, her mind racing as she tried to come to terms with everything that had happened. The kiss they had shared lingered in her thoughts, a reminder of the complex feelings she had for Finn.

The room was quiet, the only sound the faint rustle of the inn’s old wooden floors and the distant murmur of other guests. Thalia lay down on the bed, her mind still reeling from the day’s events. The comfort of the bed was a stark contrast to the turmoil in her heart.

She closed her eyes, trying to push aside the thoughts of her sisters and the uncertainties of their situation. Finn’s words echoed in her mind, a promise of support and protection that she desperately wanted to believe.

The night was quiet, and though Thalia was physically exhausted, her mind remained restless. Finn’s protective words and their passionate kiss had stirred something deep within her, a mix of emotions she couldn’t quite understand. But for now, as sleep finally claimed her, she found a fleeting sense of comfort in the knowledge that, despite the chaos and pain, she wasn’t facing it alone.