nd sacred, echoing against the vaulted sto

ward, for better, for worse, for richer,

n tunneled into grey static. Dante's thumb never shifted from my wrist. His grip remained an i

man deceived; it was the hold of a warden who had

rustle that cut through the silence of three hundred holding their breath. "Do you

to

s voice. He delivered it with the quiet, absol

t a tiny, strangled squeak, like a mouse stepped on in the dark. Beside her, the ben

his hands trembling against th

e holy man. His focus r

y baritone carrying effortlessly through the microphoned stillness of the cathedral. "The contract is si

e cathedral t

into my throat.

. Before I could pull away, his leather-clad h

Not in front o

ordered. A command,

edge of the lace and tossed it back ov

t-slicked cheeks. A collective, sharp gasp rippled across the three hundred guests in the pews-a wave of

t looking a

curved like a siren, and famous on eve

s, wide brown eyes filled with an animal panic, wearing a dress that hung

eyes were not human; they were the color of leaded sea water during a winter storm, cold and fathomless. A pale, jagged scar sliced through

ing lower lip, the tear tracks I had fought so h

smirk touched the

father was clever enough to f

. The entire nave was silent enough to hear a

ed beside the chancel rail, his tone smooth, dark, and

id, not even glancing at

e against the kneeling bench. He stood, his face the exact color

lance. "There has been... a terrible misunderstanding. Seraphina fell violently

xplain to the State Attorney sitting in pew four exactly which offshore du

is spine had been severed. Helena covered her fac

matriarchs leaned across aisles with open mouths; repo

e three hundred most powerful people in I

archbishop, whose fa

e vows," Dan

he priest stammered, looking betw

th his teeth-hooking firmly under my chin. His skin was warm, calloused, a

nte said, loud and clear into the

t, my voice cracking on the words. "You don't

der my jaw, tipping my head back until I had no

s dark scent enveloping me completely. "You walked into my church in a white dress, litt

nd spoke the words that s

ius, take you,

platinum onto my left ring finger. It was cold, heavy, a

e, his eyes gleamin

ispered, "say t