CHAPTER 7

She looked around and saw the duke's men back to holding a knife to her siblings throat. Her throat dried and she felt dizzy, "You can't do this. This has nothing to do with them."

"That might be true but they are just collateral damage. If you don't agree, then you will watch them get killed brutally and then I will kill you."

Claire's eyes watered. Her relationship with them might be strained but never once had she thought ill of them or want them to leave her, "Please, no. No. I am begging you, don't hurt them"

He stepped forward and raised his hands, not missing the light flinch from Claire, he used two of his fingers to wipe the tears slowly falling down her cheeks "Shh, don't need to cry. Nothing has happened, yet." 

His other hand circled around her tiny waist and pulled her body against his. Up close, he could see much more. Her glowing skin. Her slightly imperfect eyebrows. Her magical black eyes. Flushed cheeks. Trembling lips.

"Killian" Raymond shouted and tried to stand up but he was punched on the gut by duke's men.

"No- Ray-" Claire struggled against Killian's iron grip. Desperate to get to her brother. Killian found all this amusing, anger long forgotten. He felt content watching this little human struggle like a little fish in his hold.

"Enough!" the duke said. His men hadn't stopped hitting Raymond after the first one and although Raymond wasn't weak usually, he somehow felt like he was actually weak. Killian could also hear the other siblings struggling against their while their brother is getting beat up. 

"-please, Killian, I will literally go on my knees and beg you. Please tell them to stop. I- I will also agree to whatever you say. Just ple-"

"Don't be so pathetic, my love. He will be alright, your brother is not so weak but I heard you say you will agree to anything"

She nodded her head eagerly, tears stained her cheeks. Her eyes puffy and cheeks even more red. Her body almost slack against his own.

"Marry me."

"What?!"

"Marry me. Marry me and you family will be left alone by everyone. Marry me, pay for your father's sins and I will leave you family alone. Marry Me and I will protect you. Marry me."

Claire was shaken from her brother getting beat up in front of her but now this. She couldn't comprehend but knew this was the only way. She didn't have much choice. She looked around at her family, including Dani and every single help in this house. She wouldn't be able to bare the weight of their pain and death.

She took a deep breathe, "Y- yes, I will mar- marry you."

"You are so obedient, my love."

His thumb brushed her cheeks but she pulled her face back and said, "I hate you!"

"And I wouldn't have it any other way, my love." With that he lightly brushed his lips against her forehead, squeezed her waist roughly and walked out. His men followed him out.

Claire fell to her knees, her chest felt heavy. It felt like someone put a hand through her and was squeezing her heart. She looked to the side to see her brother getting the help he needed as well as with her other siblings. The temperature in the room also felt dreadfully hot. 

"M'Lady, are you alright?" she heard Dani ask

"Yeah... yeah- everything is fine" her speech slurred

Soon her vision also started blurring along with loud ringing in her ears. It was getting too hot. Way too hot. Her body felt too heavy to hold herself up and she collapsed on the floor. She heard many distorted voice before the darkness engulfed her.

 ~~~