n Andr

hick with the scent of old money an

Iron Matriarch sat upon her velvet throne, observing

d at her

acted as if it had never happened-as if my public humiliation

d, her voice cutting throug

trembling slightly as I cl

amily's ancestral home in Sicily. It was meant to be my peace of

Eleanor," I said, my vo

ted t

my throat befor

nting w

he black velvet bac

in a tiny, crude wedding veil, and its stiff, col

rot hit the room instant

her features contorting

ssed, the sound like s

ered, backing away as the

he shadows like a viper

ing with artificial sympathy that barely

g slowly from her throne. "Y

at wasn't just an

an accu

ant t

in my chest. "I painted the

sperately t

is eyes for a shred of humanity. "You

at the rotting cr

he turned hi

l-impenetrable, cold, an

respect, Grandmoth

art s

going to

e who had ope

manded, pointing a bony fing

They dragged me to the center of the room and kick

n't s

wouldn't give the

shark-like eyes, stepped forward

anor pronounced. "

hitting my back like

so hard I t

n

wat

d took a slow, indiffe

w

idly tracing the Star of Bradl

re

s like a crushing vice. I forced my eyes open, fo

ed on t

y thing keepin

o

i

't breathe. My back felt as t

and I slumped forward onto

w his polished shoes s

ouche

a hand. He did

d close, his lips

again," he whispered, h

cuffs, and walked away w

on the rug

agony, I sta

the

da

-two