i

o

i

o

he dark, dragging Ari

gas

st, eyes snapping open. For a moment, she thought she was still dyi

re was

blo

p

arble ben

. Candlelight flickered gently against cream-colored

er ears. Her hands shook as she touched h

gainst her heart. It b

d. How... how i

s wobbled, but she forced herself toward the mirror across t

hed the mirro

er own... but not the same

exhaustion. Her lips were pink, her skin smooth, her eyes brigh

ked twe

ightened. He

, her voice shaking.

iliar room. The lace curtains. The smell of roses.

er brida

she became

gown spread neatly across it. The very same gown she

er knees nearly giving

like a doll and handed her to Damian Cross. She had walked down the aisle with hope, wi

led. That hope

.. she had bee

ils dug into her palm, grounding her

ly had c

he mirror. The young woman in the reflection wasn't a naïve bride

d into a thin,

to her reflection. "But this time,

yes glowing with somethin

nne Carter. Damian

. But this time, she would

c. Guests celebrating, drinking, gossiping. Waitin

or that once led her to years of

nded. But her

ould walk throug

ia Carter was

as re

r a long time, her fingers ligh

once looked at this same reflection with excitement, with hope for her marriage. Back the

e knew

ot with pain, but with

er the silk sheets, the perfect bridal gown, the flowers that decorated the room. I

, her lips curving i

slaughter," she whispered. "But t

ind again the humiliation, the cold nights, Sophia's false frie

her palm until sh

this

mask, she would sharpen her claws. If she had to smile at Soph

an Cross again... so be it. But she

s name, his power, his indifference into her shield. Until she no longer

into a faint,

her back. For the first time in years no, i

no longer the we

orn as her

walked toward the door, her steps steady, her heartbeat calm. The same

ot to

ugh it with her head hig

was beginn

she wasn't go

going to