a NE

r to my father's office s

bout her. About the way she'd looked standing there in nothing but scra

gh n

orframe, arms crossed, looking far too amused for someone

t o

e pushed off the frame, strolling into th

't nee

in your bed." He dropped into the chair across from my des

er hair, lighter eyes, lighter approach to life. Where I carried the weight of

ere very obviously into it. And yet here you are, pacing around Dad's offi

your bu

oing to have to deal with the very angry priestess and the very confused pack tomorrow morning

he window at the dark forest

ch w

ad

very opportunity to sleep with your brides. Espec

sk, trying to find words for some

the woman fr

ve been sketching for months

ea

abou

face him.

ked. "It'

stairs. She's the wo

shot up. "You

inder. And her hair..." I ran a hand through my own hair, frustrated. "But when

ed forwar

just... appeared. Crashed a wedding, killed my bride, and ended up in my be

t? She's a spy? S

he pulled out his phone. "I did

nd

ive in Riverside territory. Comes from a big family. Father drinks too muc

nder," I

egion." He looked up. "So the question wha

a good

"the Moon Goddess has a

him a

r p

silence fo

nally. "Consummation would give her a fighti

ind me of

e's eyebrows rose. "So you

uch I'm regretting not f

er

ering basket for the dead bride's parents. T

Remi's

ey'll need it f

ally think she's go

Might as well dig both graves now.

ark, even

clock chimed. It

said. "Nero

already moving

room

ft Remi, but my real chambers. The ones with rei

d the door

own,"

y wrists. Heavy iron, blessed by the priestess

ins were long enough that I could move, but not long enoug

he doesn't l

oked up

d K

ea

s are tight. I don't

yanking on them hard enou

ough?" Ka

lling hard. The c

leep. Or, you know, whatever passes fo

he wa

s al

ut Remi. About the way she'd looked at me r

li

OV Tha

e drawing when I heard fo

ch-a heavy candlestick-and pressed my

ng to kill me, I wa

ock c

oor o

This one was leaner, pretti

-in-law," he s

"Take one more step and

ndlestick. Then at

Nero's going to have so

e fuck

He held up a shopping ba

t gifts. I w

ss situation you've got going on." He tossed me the bag. "You ca

g reflexively.

ng flickered across his f

lowly and pulled o

Matching bra. And ab

the thong. It was basically a

"That is the

is lin

expensive clothes, ac

at his face. He ca

earing thi

that." He nodded at the bloodstained wedding dres

Then at the dress

told you that y

like you. You

. Are you going to

I will tell you this: my brother's no

es would sugg

ted. "There's a difference.Yo

ked toward the door. "Big day tomor

ai

n-law. Try not to di

sed th

I lay on the bed, thinking a

e from outside my

s rat

ng from dow

n. Whatever monster

rried to