19) Ilay's ex girlfriend/stepmother

Out of eight pairs of eyes, only one looked at me without much shock. They frowned, raised brows, and murmured to each other before one of them finally spoke up.

"This is your wife?" Asked one of the three lookalike women seated on the brown leather couch which faced a similar one but occupied by two men whom I assumed were Ilay's brothers. 

The third couch was occupied by an older male, possibly in his late fifties while in the company of a younger woman. Just like Irina, she looked nothing like the others, which could only mean that she was an outsider. The other two pairs of eyes belonged to two teenagers, one of whom looked disinterested in anything going on around him.

"Yes," Ilay answered firmly before turning to the older male. "I hear your health is declining. How nice of you all to inform me of this while on my way here."

Shit! He sounded pissed. The kind of pissed that came before he did something insane.

"How old is she? She looks like a sixteen-year-"

"None of your damn business, Katerina?" He hissed darting his sister a 'shut-the-fuck-up' scowl before it was returned to the older man. "But I had plans on coming back, eventually. So, how's your wife doing, father?"
Following his eyes, I realized he was talking about the younger woman sitting next to Ilay's older version. There was an odd bitterness in Ilay's glare that almost showed some existing pain.

"Oh, she's right here. So tell me, Faina, how does father's dick feel like when you-"

"Ilay!" Boomed one of the brothers as he shot to his feet. "Mind your tongue you bloody bastard!"

As if mocking everyone, Ilay doubled over in a deep laugh until he became breathless.
"Oh this, this is good." He then straightened, wiping tears from his eyes. "Didn't you two expect this? After all, what kind of father marries his son's girlfriend? An insane one that's for sure. But let's forget about that for now... I just need to know when you'll be moving out of this house so I can-"

"Your wife is right here dammit!" Barked the brother who had interrupted Ilay before.

Bringing the focus back on me, everyone turned their eyes my way. I just shrugged, "Don't mind me, please, continue," I said smiling encouragingly. After all, this marriage was a sham. Even if it were real, nothing that had happened would bother me. From what I had gathered, the so-called Faina was Ilay's girlfriend. Wow, such a complex family with all these strange relationships.

I hadn't felt a drop of warmth ever since we walked into the parlor. Their eyes possessed a faded bond that was being held together by old bandaids. Sooner or later, it'd fully collapse. But until then, each seemed determined to hold on to the empty title called, family.

Irina rushed forward and grabbed onto Ilay's arm. "Please stop," she begged with tears in her eyes. "I thought you had forgiven my sister? It's been ten yea-"

"Ooh?! Is that why you were desperate to take her place and marry me?" Ilay mocked grinning devilishly at her. "Don't worry, one of these two will fulfill your wish and you can join the family just like your sister," he teased wiping a teardrop from her left eye with his thumb.

"No, I don't want them!" She broke down, rivers of tears flowing down her cheeks uncontrollably.
Gawd! I did not sign up for this much drama.
"Only by marrying you can I repay the debt my sister owes you. That is what my family decided years ago."

He pushed her hands off of him and glanced my way as if beckoning me. I defied his indirect order,  curious to see what he'd do in front of so many eyes.
"Kally! Will you just stand there as another woman professes her undying love for your husband? That is so cruel of you. I might be taken away from you." He grinned.

Rolling my eyes internally, I decided to play along and went closer to the two. My arm brushed Irina's chest as I pushed my way past her to get to Ilay. He shamelessly wound a hand on my waist as the other cupped my face. And as if we were in a room by ourselves, he sank and devoured my lips brutally right in front of his family.

Loud gasps emerged and a glass smashed the floor from somewhere.

If I had known I'd get such a reaction just because of a kiss, I'd have hopped in his arms centuries ago.

"Ilay, how could you?" Irina gasp-cried beside us.

The kiss came to an end, leaving my lips pulsing from his violence. "Is that proof enough that I am married?"

From their astonished expressions, I could tell that the kiss was more than just an act of intimacy.

"Now that we've greeted 'our elders'," he began sarcastically while eyeing his father and stepmother, "we'll be retiring to my bedroom. I hope it's well prepared to host me and," Ilay spooned me to his side, "wife."

Not a word was breathed from the baffled group. The various emotions burning in their eyes and on their faces were so much fun to watch. I wanted to stay there and spectate more wild drama. But Ilay led me away, never letting go of my waist until we were in a room upstairs.

I froze for a few seconds at its entrance. It was wide enough to host twenty king-sized beds and leave room for an entire dining table. But with only a single large bed, one three-seater couch, and a huge closet, it looked damn spacious and empty.

There were two extra doors present which I concluded led to a bathroom and possibly, a walk-in closet.

"What do you want to have for dinner?" Ilay asked from beside the bed. He was already undressing. Well, not like we hadn't seen each other completely naked and done most naughty things.
Before I could make up my mind, he was already stark naked.

"May I ask you something?"
I took a step forward, abandoning the door.

"What is it?"

"Why did you kiss me in front of your family? I mean it wasn't a big deal-"

"It is for me."
His eyes suddenly hardened. "Drakon is not just a name to a stupid gang, it's centuries of traditions and rules, especially for the heirs. You see, to rule better, a Czar has to have his head in the right place. That means only having one wife at a time. We 'only' kiss, the women we plan on settling with until death."

My intestines suddenly filled with icicles that seemed to be stabbing me from the inside. "Until death?" I repeated in a shaky voice. "We've kissed before. Does that mean that when the time comes you'll ki..."

He released a long sigh running his fingers through his hair in a model-like posture. And with the natural light flowing from the window behind him, he looked like he was posing for a professional photo.
The dangling earring made light flicker from its surface, attracting my full attention.

"Your survival will depend on how well you aid me in my ascension and how well you'll behave. As for my wife, I can spend the rest of my life without one. Trusting women is poisonous to my soul as you have witnessed down there. I have no plans of taking one for myself."

That was... disappointing. But reassuring at the same time. At least I'd not live in fear of when he'd slash my throat so he could marry again.

Chapter end