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