he only thing anchoring her to reality. Her once-glossy curls were a frizzed halo of chaos. Her veil was gone. Her makeup had wept do

ymore. She didn't

uiet, too quiet

his mind. Or maybe... he never mean

in her periphery. A man'

le floors of the term

dow l

was Raf-Leo's chief bodyguard-and behind him, two more me

ef, then gave a nod to the others. "Get her

d to-two strong arms lifted her to her feet. She staggered. Her he

here with you," she

ofter than she expected. Not u

n't fig

have the

t. They brought her in through the ga

t exchanged for something darker. His shirt open at the throat,

fu

ing forward. "She fina

dn't a

?" he asked.

le

e. "Gone, I suppose.

d. But still,

ians... my investors. But don't worry, Lily. I found you. And

ehind him. His tie was loosen

t right," Emil

hed into a cold,

er to her o

was waiti

ctly set hair. Her hands, once elegant and adorned wi

gainst the bedpost, her ar

ls clicking on the wooden floor. The

n't vi

sob wit

leste choked, her voice crackin

idn't

s. "I fought for you when your father gave you away. I argued. I begged

oaked. "I couldn't marry hi

ruz girl runs away from a wedding to the most dangerous man in the Western He

have another daughter. She's only eighteen. Do you think L

d. Her sister was he

unger siste

y down. Sis you don't have to m

slowly as tears ro

ow!" Her mother

ground you

with her

s now gentle, brushing tangled

tirely. "Don't do this again. Not for me. For your sister. F

ins of her love, her freedo

ding was plann

her often-just watched. Studied her. Like a sculptur

d dress w

ewer diamonds. And

ess approved. She was not trusted, not even in her ow

y came

o best frien

e her bedroom doo

ened the last c

e him," Celeste whispe

and only a press that would give out good info on the wedding

e like a ghost. Her steps

is time, like a king at a funeral. His expr

d him, he didn'

n't exp

riest

r-holy, binding, cru

ve and to

art wa

ness and in

asted

death do

le

one w

ooked

and when it was time t

severally and then ..softly, p

Perfunctory. A s

not very loud. One that

her bags were packed and she w

ooked at her she knew the wedding wasn't