Astera stood beside Xerxes, the weight of the moment gave the simple space a gravity it didn't deserve. She glanced down at her trembling hands, the delicate lace of her dress barely visible through the haze of her conflicting emotions.

Xerxes's presence was an unyielding force that seemed to fill the entire room. His dark eyes, so familiar yet so enigmatic, never left her face. She hated how her body reacted to his gaze—the warmth that crept up her neck, the traitorous flutter in her chest.

The officiant, an older man with kind yet distant eyes, cleared his throat and began. "We are gathered here today..."

Astera Sinclair" the officiant's voice jolted her back to the present. "Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

Her breath caught in her throat. The weight of expectation pressed down on her, suffocating. She glanced at Xerxes, whose gaze was fixed on her, unwavering and intense. The seconds stretched into an eternity as she wrestled with herself.

"I..." Her voice faltered, her lips trembling. She thought of the orphanage, the children, and the promise she had made to herself to protect them no matter the cost. Finally, she nodded. "I do."

The words tasted foreign on her tongue, heavy with reluctant finality. Xerxes's expression softened imperceptibly, his lips curving into a small, almost imperceptible smile of satisfaction.

"And do you, Xerxes Sidorov , take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

"I do," he answered without hesitation, his voice firm and resolute, as if there had never been any doubt in his mind.

The officiant nodded and continued the formalities, but Astera barely heard the rest. Her heart pounded in her chest as Xerxes reached for her hand, sliding a stunning diamond ring onto her finger. The metal felt cold at first but quickly warmed against her skin.

"By the power vested in me," the officiant concluded, "I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."

Astera barely had time to react before Xerxes tilted her chin up with a gentle yet possessive touch. His lips descended on hers, firm and unyielding. The kiss was not the soft, romantic moment she'd dreamed of as a girl. It was intense, claiming, leaving no room for doubt that she was his.

The officiant's voice broke them apart ,"Now you'll both be required to sign on this marriage certificate"They both nod and take a pen each.

"You don't have to look so tense, Malysh," he murmured, his voice as soft as velvet. He reached out, brushing an errant strand of hair from her cheek with a tenderness that left her breathless. "Once we get over with this , everything will be better."

Better? The word echoed in her mind as she turned her gaze to the papers in front of her. How could this be better? She was signing away her freedom, binding herself to a man who had returned to her life with force and threats. And yet, she couldn't deny the part of her that felt drawn to him, that remembered the boy he'd been before life had twisted them into this strange, tumultuous present.

As she hesitated, her pen hovering above the dotted line, a flash of memory surfaced, unbidden and vivid.

It was a warm summer evening, the kind that painted the sky in shades of gold and pink. The orphanage garden had been their sanctuary that day, the scent of blooming flowers mingling with the distant hum of cicadas.

Astera sat cross-legged in the grass, her small hands fumbling with a daisy she was trying to weave into a crown. Beside her, Xerxes lay sprawled out, his hands tucked behind his head as he gazed up at the sky.

"Do you think the stars will ever feel close enough to touch?" she asked, breaking the comfortable silence.

Xerxes turned his head to look at her, a lopsided smile on his face. "If you're tall enough, maybe. I'll climb up there for you one day and bring one down."

She laughed, the sound light and carefree, and nudged him with her foot. "Don't be silly. You'd burn your hands."

"Not if I wear gloves," he countered with a grin, sitting up and leaning closer to her. "I'd do it, you know. Anything for you."

Astera's laughter faded, replaced by a shy smile. She lowered her gaze, her fingers fiddling with the half-finished daisy crown. "You don't have to do that. Just... promise you won't leave, okay? That's all I want."

Xerxes reached out, his hand brushing against hers as he gently took the daisy crown from her grasp. "I promise, Malysh I won't leave you ever . You know what lets make a pact.  If we're both still alone when we're grown-ups..."

He paused, tilting his head as if considering his next words carefully.

"What?" she prompted, her curiosity piqued.

He smirked, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "We'll get married. You and me. No matter what."

Astera blinked, her cheeks flushing as she stared at him. "Married? You're crazy."

"Maybe," he said with a shrug, placing the daisy crown on her head with exaggerated care. "But you'd be crazy to say no. You'd never find anyone who'd love you like I do."

For a moment, she was too stunned to respond, her heart pounding in a way she didn't yet understand. But then she smiled, her fingers lightly touching the crown he'd made perfect for her. "Okay, then. It's a deal."

Their hands met in an unspoken vow, sealed with a shake and a pinky swear under the setting sun.

The memory faded as Astera blinked back to the present, her heart aching with the bittersweetness of it. She glanced at Xerxes, who was already watching her, his expression softer than she'd expected.

"Lost somewhere, Malysh?" he asked, his voice low, almost gentle.

She nodded, swallowing hard as she tried to mask the emotions that threatened to overwhelm her. "Just remembered the stupid promise you made."

His lips curved into a small smile, and for a moment, she saw a glimmer of the boy he'd been. "Not so stupid, was it? I meant every word back then. And I still do."

Astera's breath hitched, her resolve wavering under the weight of his words. She wanted to argue, to push him away, but the sincerity in his eyes was disarming.

The officiant cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to the papers. "Whenever you're ready," he said, gesturing to the documents.

Xerxes reached for the certificate first, his movements deliberate and confident as he signed his name with a flourish. Then he turned to her, holding the certificate out with a small, encouraging smile.

"You don't have to be afraid," he said quietly, his voice steady. "I'll take care of you, Astera. Always."

Her fingers trembled as she took the certificate, the memory of their childhood promise intertwining with the reality of what she was about to do. Slowly, she leaned down, her pen pressing to the paper as she signed her name.

As she finished, Xerxes's hand covered hers, his warmth grounding her in the moment. He brought her hand to his lips, pressing a kiss to her knuckles that was as possessive as it was tender.

"Now you are mine, Malysh," he murmured, his dark eyes meeting hers with an intensity that made her heart race. "And this time around ,I won't let you go."

Astera didn't respond, her emotions too tangled to form coherent words. Instead, she let him lead her from the courthouse, his hand never leaving hers.

As they stepped out into the cool night air, Astera felt a strange sense of detachment. The world outside continued as if nothing monumental had just happened, as if her life hadn't just irrevocably changed.

A sleek black car idled at the curb, its polished surface gleaming under the streetlights. Xerxes guided her toward it, his hand firm on her lower back.

"Where are we going?" she asked, her voice flat, betraying none of the turmoil inside her.

"Home," Xerxes replied simply, opening the door for her.

She hesitated for a fraction of a second before sliding into the plush leather seat. The interior smelled faintly of cedar and something distinctly him. Xerxes joined her, his presence filling the confined space.

The silence between them was thick, but Astera couldn't bring herself to break it. Instead, she stared out the window, watching the city blur into streaks of light as the car sped through the streets.

Finally, she spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why did you do this, Xerxes? Why now?"

He didn't answer immediately. When he did, his tone was measured, almost contemplative. "Because I couldn't let you slip away again. I promised you once that I wouldn't leave you. This is me keeping that promise."

She turned to him, her hazel eyes burning with barely restrained anger. "You kept that promise by manipulating me? By threatening the orphanage?"

His jaw tightened, but he met her gaze head-on. "I did what I had to do. You can hate me for it if you want, but I won't apologize for protecting what matters to me."

"Protecting? Is that what you call this?" She gestured between them, her voice rising. "This isn't protection, Xerxes. It's control."

His expression darkened, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "Call it what you want, Malysh. But you're my wife now, and I won't let anything—or anyone—take you away from me again."

Astera's breath hitched, her heart pounding against her ribcage. The raw intensity in his eyes was both terrifying and magnetic, and she hated the way her body betrayed her, responding to his every word, his every look.

The car pulled to a smooth stop in front of an enormous mansion . Xerxes stepped out first, extending a hand to help her. She hesitated before taking it, her fingers trembling as they met his.

"Where are we?" she asked, her voice wary.

"Home," he repeated, his lips curving into a small, enigmatic smile.

Astera followed him inside, her mind racing. She knew that whatever awaited her behind those doors, it was only the beginning of a battle she wasn't sure she could win.