Free You Are Mine by Janeal Falor

soon.”
    She sniffs and nods. “He's giant.
Don't let it scare you.”
    “ I won't.” I flee the tent
before I tear up.
    Outside Father waits, fat lips
crinkled into a scowl. Next to him is a law officer, thin with a
bushy mustache, tapping his foot. Behind them people are gathered,
watching the scene. The majority are warlocks wearing Chardonian
orange band on their arms. A few others with purple and green
bands, along with a few women are here as well. None wear the white
Envadi band. I scan them until someone rises from sitting on the
ground. The Envadi. A different one from last night, but he still
looms above everyone else. I don't know how I missed him, even on
the ground.
    He's tall. A couple feet taller than
me. Perhaps not that much, but I could walk under his arm if he
were to stretch it out and I'm taller than most Chardonian women.
On the field he looked big, but standing next to me he's sky
breaking.
    I gawk at him. He might crush me if I
look away. His green eyes, pupils rimmed with gold, stare back at
me. He's young, but strong. What if one murder wasn't enough for
today?
    Father snatches me to his side and
scolds me under his breath, but I still can't take my eyes from the
giant. If he really is my new owner, I have more to fear of him
than Father. An Envadi, my owner, I clutch my stomach.
    “ Are you ready to get this
over with?” The Envadi's voice is deep. Deep enough to send quivers
through me. Or maybe I'm just scared.
    “ Of course I am, that's
why I'm standing here,” Father says.
    The Envadi's piercing gaze moves
toward Father. I'm grateful it's not directed at me, I'm still
shaking even without it. “I asked your daughter. She's my property
now. Not yours.”
    Father's hands clench. His arm lifts
in what I know is the start of a spell.
    “ I am,” I say, to distract
him.
    Father falters and the spell never
happens, but he stays in a defensive posture.
    The Envadi nods. He swishes his hand
in a circle. A salmon-colored spell flies around us and forms a
dome separating the four of us from the crowd and the tent. It's
quiet. The only sound is breathing and the rustle of my dress as I
shift positions.
    “ Now we can't be
overheard,” he says. “Since I am to inherit immediately, I insist
Serena move into one of my properties today.”
    My legs weaken. There's nothing for me
to hold onto. I will them to stay strong.
    “ That's absurd,” Father
says. “The engagement ceremony has yet to take place, let alone the
wedding. You can't take her from me.”
    The law officer coughs. “Excuse me
Councilman Stephen, but I'm afraid he can. The law states that once
the contract has been signed, the woman is his property and he can
do with her as he pleases as long as she remains chaste before the
marriage.”
    Father's eyes widen. “But no one takes
a bride before the wedding.”
    “ I do.” The Envadi sounds
relaxed, but his body is taut. Why does he want to take me with
him? Is he going to take my virtue and purposely get me tarnished?
The world tilts around me. A foul taste invades my mouth. I'm going
to be sick.
    The law officer addresses the Envadi.
“You do understand, Chancellor Zade, that if you dishonor her, she
will no longer be yours, but will be tarnished and you will forfeit
all claims.”
    The Envadi's jaw flexes several times
before he says, “I'm aware.”
    “ Then what purpose does it
serve?” Father says.
    “ It seems you keep
forgetting she's my property, which means it's my concern. However,
I know the importance of family. Any family is welcome to stay for
a visit.”
    “ That's the only claim
you'll give me over her? A visit?” Father says.
    The Envadi folds his arms. “You heard
me.”
    “ You can't do that.”
Father shakes with fury.
    I cringe away from him.
    “ Technically he can,” the
officer says. “You know he has full rights to your daughter
now.”
    “ Is there any way to get
out of it?” Father asks.
    “ There are two ways for
the betrothal contract