bration banquet, it was as if I

protest. And I no longe

old me to

medicine, I took it. When h

the same. "Okay." "That

docile, well-behaved. Ian se

d that threat involving the psychiatric wa

completely tamed. And

re warmth on his

proper husband, concerned

to eat, what I didn't. He t

ow, he would wrap his arms around me f

, in my previous life, he had shown even half this patienc

re were

w her an extravagantly lavish party rig

e came into my room h

is for you," h

a diamond bracelet, glit

ou li

d

odd

id, watching me closely, expectation flickering

ht hand, still wrapped in

piano with a

And a public decla

fter he destroyed what she cherished m

an froze for a split second, clearly

He bent down and k

knew you'

p at him a

ank you,

ally giving my we

ving me with noth

r preparing such

the rain poured

shadows of the trees thr

d, hugging my knees. The searing pa

, dull thud came

rrying the chill of rain, forced the lo

asped, pani

and clamped o

It's

was tight with re

ater dripping down the sharp line

ring my voice, my whole body trembling. "There are

eillance

grabbed the back of my head,

icy left palm. "Three days from now. Jemma's birthday banquet. I'll have my peopl

ils sh

all

it on m

y face, his gaze turning

t blood, take blood. If you want fire, burn

into the rain-soaked night, my fing

its place rose an absolute re

I was goi