ana'

d like dying rose

nd me. Lace bit into my skin. The veil, a suffocating cloud over my head

sharp and hard, before

v

cou

leaned against the frame, arms crossed, a

e ready for a funera

im, my movements s

ither - no silk, no shine. Just black, heavy fabric like a soldier before a bat

we both are

my thoughts so easily. Hated that somehow, we were standin

nd the door, his voice echo

s ti

ide, letting me

me, long and cold. Every step I took e

ors, they swung open, and a

ds of

cur

resen

like wolves s

the front pew. His nod was slig

hre

nees to keep

g lightly around my wrist, guiding me fo

ogether, si

etending t

ssed in

a flat hum against the roar in m

o

no

b

b

mach t

rst. His voice didn't shake. He sounded like

t was

to lean closer,

even as my heart kicked agains

d thinly and ask

felt more like a shackle than a promise. His hands were warm. Ste

the bride," th

slow, giving me a

idn

st, barely there. A whisper of a ki

came up to cup my jaw, and for a seco

tween us, sharp

ted

ted

d

d mine like he was looking for someth

ered the moment. L

o face the crowd, we

as d

as

as m

tter o

ly w

ed the black cars waiting at the curb. Ivan guided me toward the front one, t

or me. I hesitated j

gh that only I could hear. "Or

id i

slamming shut with a

tbelt. The driver was one of Ivan's men - hard-eyed,

ed around us, the city flashing by in

," Ivan said

t him. "Don't talk to me li

mouth. "You're not. Soldiers

cide whether that was a

xt second, the

- glass shattering

rd, throwing me a

d the air. M

th and shoved me down, cov

own!" h

him over the ri

iolently. Somewhere ahead of us, another vehicle slamme

see, but Ivan's weight

e dead," he gro

rinding against stone. The driver barked something in R

, the car scre

door open and

lled the alley, thick and choking. So

after him. We ducked into a crumbling doorway

said, pressing me

cream at him.

wasn't

ving, my fingers digging int

er, his body tense, coiled

he muttered, "they

ing," I

for the first time, I saw a

or hi

r