bered the moment everything I knew turned silent. But the act of wa

had become some

face like a ghost trying to surface. Blood dried against my wris

ot a word from him. Not even a glance. The on

s bre

han I could say

oing to sit th

s didn'

rder. "Say

, not

Say something

with mine, He was calm,

t order

asked. "You di

k. "You think

hink your last name is Dravi

t have missed my target. And you

e didn't surprise me

aid. "Knowing you're efficient enough

ou that whoever planned

t understanding. Not fear. Something

him and left me?

n said. "You're a symbol. A p

osta

dn't

s my father. And I married you on the same day h

kind of world

what kind of w

You were never suppos

yet I

slowly, hands g

hate you

yed level. "T

d have mad

it d

d nothing more. I was afraid of wh

rch. My eyes lifted and saw the chapel. Quiet. Sm

he car,

gainst the divider. T

bing against my skin. I welcomed the pai

to. He just moved like gravity d

u still fol

re, you wouldn't

o you

dn't

about honour," "You d

d

didn't you

ied. "I was watching the exits. Watchin

our fathe

s a ta

hat like it means something. Lik

hen standi

e a mo

ill bre

your d

what's

nt. The wind stirred the loose stra

this marriage. Not for this contract. But for whom I used to be. For the girl

as softer. "He m

ient. You're the one

ver meant to

rned

el door, and for the fir

eeped into bone. I found the wooden pews emp

r lay be

ndles flickering like they we

m, folding my h

red. "That this marriage was the only w

offer comfort. It d

e I don't trust. Smile in a dress I didn't cho

f the white cloth, wil

coul

not lying here with coins in his

would keep the name alive. But you never

creaked

oving to the blade hidde

od just beyo

ourning black. The

asked. I didn't

n lifted

lin

onn

n steppe

oon as I hea

ome to the we

n't in

e. You refused

be I

her shoes not making a soun

for me,"

ha

he didn't trust some of the voices around him. He s

n't you

dn't think he

d n

he's

st

just about territory? This wasn't a strategy. This was r

you kn

e, they wouldn't ha

You think it was some

smile the most often c

ly. "He didn't tel

d. "I don't t

er. "Why ar

nt your title. Someone who isn't afraid

you want

oked u

the nam

e. One hand brushed my

again, she was

back

I lifted

didn

ines of his face and t

id this w

ook everythi