AUTHOR'S POV

Hunter's island,
11:44 pm

" Welcome to Kingsland ". A middle-aged lady bowed as Hunter and Grace landed on his island.

Grace swept her eyes around. The beach they were standing on was the same place she saw in her dream.

As they walked inside the mansion's garden area she saw a big fountain. She stopped and stared.

" Oh my my, Queen?". Zara came rushing. Her eyes filled with tears as she swept her eyes all over Grace and run her wrinkled palms over her shoulders to her arms showing affection. " My daughter". She breathed out putting her hands on Grace's head making her bend a little. She pecked her forehead. "How are you?". She asked giving a slight squeeze on her palms.

Grace nodded. " I'm good ". She replied nodding her head passing a soft smile at the old lady as she was showing so much fondness and Grace had no heart to tell her that she doesn't remember her at all.

" Zara, take her upstairs". Hunter commanded.

" Come ". Zara ushered her talking continuously. Saying how empty the mansion felt without her and how her absence made her cry. She kept on thanking god under her breath all the way upstairs while Grace was amazed by the interior like she hasn't been there before.

They finally stopped in front of a door that had a big crown designed in golden color. Zara opened the door for Grace. She entered, it was Hunter's bedroom. A huge dark-shaded room with a King sized round bed. She walked further looking at the photo frames. It was all her photographs and paintings.

She was having a closer look at each of them with a focus that she didn't notice Hunter has entered the room.

She flinched and quickly turned around as she suddenly felt someone's presence behind her.

Hunter took a step closer making her push herself onto the wall. " Welcome back home". He said tugging her hair behind her ear. " Why did you cut your hair? I liked them long". He lean and sniffed her sent. " Still so godamn perfect ". He said in her ear resting his hands on either side of her on the wall caging her.

Grace closed her eyes as their chests collided. Hunter softly planted a kiss on her eyelid. " F*ck, I missed this the most". He muttered huskily and moved his face down towards her neck, she tilted her head as his nose brushed her skin.

Hunter was amazed at her act as she gave him more access instead of pushing him away. He kissed her exposed flashes but she didn't even move.

His acts were reminding her of Caden. The only person she has ever submitted herself to.

" любовь? (love?)". He called making her open her eyes only to find his face hardly a centimeter away from hers. " I've planned our wedding. It's Next week".

Grace froze in her place looking at his smiling poster. " I- I can't marry you". Her voice came out above a whisper.

" I'm not asking. I'm informing you. Rest well for tonight. We have to fly to Spain tomorrow to select your wedding dress". Saying that he left the room.

Grace breathed out and sat on the floor resting her back against the wall. She knew she matters something more than just his submissive to him like the way he searched for her but never in her dream she thought he had planned to marry her.

The next morning:

" Can you all please just leave me alone I don't want you all to bathe me". Grace tried to shove the maids who were sent to her like they used to, to get her ready but she did not remember her schedule and puzzled them all.

" But Queen-". A lady tried to explain only to get cut off.

" DON'T CALL ME THAT". Grace shouted moving back.

" What's going on here?". Hunter's deep voice has been heard. Everyone turned to face him including Grace.

" King, we came here as per your command but Queen-".

" Leave ". A word and all the maids silently left the room after bowing at him.

Grace gazed at Hunter who was calmly walking towards her with slow steps. Eyes were on hers.

" Were they bothering you, моя королева? (my Queen?)". He asked stopping in front of her.

" Yes, and you are too. This name too. Literally everyone and everything". She said frustratingly.

" Shish. Why so aggressive? They won't bother you from now on. Calm down". Hunter said politely. " What you want? Just tell me, I'll arrange ".

" I want to meet Caden. I need to tell him something". She said hardening Hunter's gaze.

" Why do you care about him?". He asked controlling his anger. " The thief who sold you for his sister ". He added making her divert her eyes from his. She hates that she's still hoping. " What did you expect? Wait... did you actually think you mattered to him? Silly girl". Hunter chuckled mumbling the last word getting on her nerves.

" What should I have expected then? I got my consciousness and whoever I met said the same damn thing, that I belong there. I believed what I saw because I had no memory left. I still haven't got it back". She raised her voice.

" Stop repeating the same thing, Grace, don't test my patience. You know well that I've F*CKING SHORT TEMPER". He yelled when he lost it.

" NO, I DON'T KNOW ". She yelled back. " I'M TELLING YOU AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT I'VE LOST MY MEMORIES THEN WHY AREN'T YOU BELIEVING ME". Her voice broke in the end.

A sick smile crept up to his lips. " Let's get your memories back". His deep voice sent a shiver down her spine. She stepped back noticing his manic eyes but he was fast to pull her closer to him and brought his mouth near her ear. " I'll do things that you won't forget". He whispered sending goosebumps all over her body.

" Leave me". She seethed in his face trying to wiggle out.

" Keep your eyes open. I won't repeat". He warned and lean to her face. She hit her fist on his chest but it didn't help.

His one hand palmed her nap and the other's grip around her waist tightened making her tiptoe to reach his level.

Seeing his nightmare so closely terrified her. His enlarging orbs were dark and magical which parted her lips. He leaned more and attached their lips.

His touches brought some blurry memories back. She was too lost in her thoughts until he started moving his lips against hers roughly and soon started to suck on them. He tried to push his tongue inside of her mouth but she kept her mouth stubbornly closed. She winced when he bit her lower lip that it started to bleed which gave him chance to enter his tongue inside. His tongue explored her mouth fulfilling his desire.

He pulled out looking down at her panting body. Her mouth was open she was trying to catch her breath as well, as per his command.

Hunter's hungry gaze follow the thick blood sliding down from her lips. Her fingers fisted as he leaned again.

He cupped her jaw tightly and licked the blood. A psychotic smile rose to his lips.

" P-please... no". Her lips trembled.

His gaze lifted to meet her eyes which were half closed. " Let me help you remind... what I am". He spoke in a hoarse voice before pushing his face into the crook of her neck.

He inhaled sharply. She closed her eyes tightly shut as he grabbed a fistful of her hair and pulled it making her face up. Her flashes got exposed in front of his lustful eyes.

He brought his lips on her neck bone and then bit there hard. Her nails dig in his biceps. Her chest moved up colliding with Hunter's hard one as she controlled herself from making any noise knowing he wanted to hear.

He slipped his index finger under the strap of her dress and pulled it down from her forearm, leaving wet kisses all around her shoulder.

She felt strengthless and dizzy. Her body weight was getting more and more dependent on his arm. " King". He froze hearing her addressing him like that. Her grip around him got loosened. She felt her body numb and suddenly she couldn't even able to stand.

Hunter caught her before she fall and looked at her face leaving her hair completely. She gulped painfully before speaking looking straight into his eyes. "This is all I know about you. I really don't remember you. I'm not lying. Please don't r*pe me. I-I'm pre-".

Hunter stared at her face getting colorless and eyes getting closed even before she could complete her sentence.

Her head fell back and the next thing Hunter knew... she collapsed.

" G-Grace?". Hunter stuttered for the first time. " Grace, open your eyes. GRACE I WON'T, GRACE?... SHIT!". He lifted her unconscious body into his arms and laid her on the bed. He sat across her and tapped his palm on her pale face. " Grace, open your eyes. I'm so sorry. I won't force". He got panicked seeing her not moving.

" ZARA". He shouted pulling Grace on his lap. " You'll be alright". He said brushing her hair back from her face. His heart was thumping against his chest. He never felt this scared before.

A slight knock on the door turned Hunter's head towards it. " ZARA". He called loudly knowing it was her. Zara pushed the door open only to see their condition.

She immediately rushed towards them. " What happened to her?" Zara gasped looking at her.

Hunter's palm which was on Grace's face was shaking slightly. " I-I forced my-myself- Zara, look at her, please wake her ". He pleaded for the first time looking at Zara hopelessly. Zara stared. " Why are her hands getting colder- C-call the doctor. SEND HIM HERE RIGHT NOW". He yelled making Zara jump in her place.

" King, you have f-fired all the doctors last week. All the security and staff have also got changed as per your order". Zara panicky speak making Hunter snap his head towards her bowing head.

" WHAT THE F*CK ARE YOU HIGH ON. I WASN'T EVEN HERE". He roared glaring at the old lady.

" Didn't you ca-".

" Send Dr. Draven from the cell. I'll show you how to fire you all later". He seethed making Zara immediately rush downstairs.

Hunter's gaze soften when it fell on the unconscious Grace in his arms. " Please open your eyes, love. I promise I'll protect you from everything... including me. I'm so crazy about you. I have no emotion other than anger. I didn't know how to react when you denied recognizing me. I couldn't control myself. Please open your eyes ". He rested his forehead on hers.

A lone tear fell from his eye to Grace's cheek. " I love you ". He whispered and softly peck her eyelid. " I love you to death, Grace. I really do". He wept pulling her into a tight hug.

• It used to beat, My heart shivers now.

Chapter published on: 10 August 2022.

🪶 The author has a question: Who do you think deserves Grace, Hunter or Caden?

Don't forget to vote⭐ like you all forgot to do on chapter 23😏.