ra'

ed, though. It was the man beside me, his p

and uninterested, looked over my face as if he was preparing me for something far less personal than what we were about to do. His eyes met mine for only a lit

d. The union wasn't for love or affection. It was for power. And as

like a blade, smooth, detached, but carrying a fain

helplessness. How could he stand there, looking so calm, so indifferent? I wanted to scream at him

s. His satisfaction at forcing me into this marriage was limitless. Every moment of this ceremony, ev

I couldn't focus on anything but the coldness of the room, the coldness of Kieran's presence, the coldness

fully constructed walls. Kieran barely moved. He stood like a statue, his face unreadable, bu

re firm, cold, dispassionate. His fingers brushed against

thing in him that acknowledged the weight of what we were about to do. To

ing its way up my chest. But I held it in check. If I allowed it to spill over, if I allowed myself to s

han a piece of property to be exchanged, a pawn to s

my wife," Kieran said, his voice so flat it could have been a recording.

idn't want to be here. I didn't want to be married to him. I wanted to scream, to run, to burn everything

n the background. "Do you, Elara of House Thornwood

y throat for a moment, the weight of them suffocat

d

two words. They felt like a betrayal of everything I had ev

mirk than anything resembling warmth or affection. He squeezed my hand tighter,

like it was happening to someone else, not me. The vows, the rings, the promises-none

wasn't a surprise, but it still stung. How could he stand there, so unmoved by the fact that he was taking away ever

and wife, it felt like a knife in my chest.

ing against my ear as he whisper

a shiver down my spine. It was

to slap him across the face and tell him that he didn'

ing his hands in mock joy. "Congratulations, my daughter. And to you

he felt. It was a triumph. Magnus had won. He had succeeded in forcing me into this union,

sure, but inside, I was screaming. I wanted to tear this all down. I wanted to b

nothing I coul

the time

an's

to her lap. Her face didn't show much, but I could feel her anger

. That was p

clear. She wasn't here because of love,

ssed in a straight, hard line, before she finally placed her hand in mine. Her touch was cold and stiff, but steady. I noticed the

high, her shoulders straight. It was like she was trying to convince herself this wasn't a prison. I didn't say a word. What

utside my chamber

" I said evenly. "Find som

s wide and filled with anger. "Wha

ing for her response, I opened the door, stepped inside, a

Then, a soft knock broke the silence

ough the door, her voice

lked to the fireplace and put it on,let

der this time. "Kieran! O

k of glass on glass the only sound in the room. I sat dow

yelled, her voice filled with fury. "You thi

echoing in the room. "You coward! You arrogan

ir scraping against the floor as I crossed the room in a few steps. I u

pound on the door again. Her face was flushed, her chest rising and falling with e

vant throwing a tantrum," I said, my v

'll throw me out? You'll hit me? Go ahead, Kiera

d moved at my side, the urge to shut her up overwhelming. My finger

a stream of curses and insults that pounded against the door like her fists had moments before. But I

an before. I didn't bother checking to see where she'd gone. Let her

rules. And she would l