Mcca

through and crossed the rain-soaked garden, keeping

g quartet. The air was warm and smelled of white roses and expensive perfume. Guests in tuxedos and glitte

. The wedding cake stood beneath a glittering arch, and our init

had ended our engagement. As far as every

y chest, but the cold, hard s

to the polished floor. I watched them. The Sharpes, looking smug

r child

rectly behind me. "Where have y

un a

aked clothes and mud-streaked skin. He was a decent man, a diplomat who had always treated me with

rs. "Come in, out of the cold. Hassan told us you were recovering at the family lodge and didn't want visi

ent two weeks hiding at The Den, Hassan had let hi

of something complicated. He was the only one. The on

to Hassan," I manag

course. He's upstairs in the groom's lounge with his c

. I had intended to confront Hassan during the ceremony, in front of

guests gave me curious, disapproving l

losed door at the far end. "He's in there. Go on. Whateve

d bride arriving late for her own wedding. With a worrie

in the sil

My hand reached for the knob, but I stopped. I pr

of Hassan and hi

I hea

s suppressed groan. The rustle

in that room. Hassan

t sound. I knew exactly what w

the doorknob. My first instinct was to thr

public scene would make me look like a hysterica

ane Sharpe's voice. "Hassan, stop it," she purred. "The ceremony

, I'll tell them I ended the engagement two weeks ago after Arden betraye

"The flowers, the cake, the

end with Arden becoming my wife. By the time we leave, everyone will

ing intact so he could control how the breakup became public. My absence would make his accusation

y humiliation-even when they belie

pped from t