You can do this. Remember what’s at stake.
At the sink, she took another long sip of whiskey, shivering at the taste, and glanced into the mirror. Tears streaked her face.Her reddened eyes stared back at her, splotches of pink mottling her nose and cheeks.
Her gaze moved downward. The golden dress Soren had given her was not at all her taste. Gold was for accents only; it drew too much attention otherwise. And the cut was, well… razor-sharp. It put her entire body on display.
She hated it.
It made her think of another dress. One that suited her like no other ever would. Because the giver knew what her soul required, not just her body.
Rune fought off that thought before its claws burrowed in.
She wouldnotthink of Gideon Sharpe. She wasdonethinking about him.
Except, apparently, she wasn’t.
Like Alex, Gideon had also proposed to Rune. Not marriage, exactly, but a partnership. A future together.
She fisted her hands.
Gideon never really loved you. He loved the girl he thought you were. So it doesn’t matter what he proposed.
Gideon could never love a witch.
She wasn’t sure what was more upsetting: that Alex had loved her, or that Gideon didn’t.
Rune had been so certain the Blood Guard captain would hunt her down—as he’d sworn to do. But two months had passed, and he hadn’t come.
Maybe he decided I’m not worth his revenge.
Maybe he’s moved on.
Rune clenched her fists.
Who cared what the reason was? He was gone. Out of her life.
Tears burned in her eyes, sharper than the whiskey. Rune took another swig, hoping it would numb her enough to go back to the ballroom. Surely Alex’s song was over by now.
But her feet refused to turn around and walk her back.
Rune glanced at the ring on her finger and lowered the bottle.
He’s gone. He’s never coming back. You’ve had two months to grieve. It’s time to move on.
Alex would understand why she had to do this. Why she needed to marry Soren. He wouldn’t like it, but he would understand. He would forgive her.
It was the thought of Alex—kind, good, safe Alex—forgivingher that did Rune in.
Instead of rallying, the opposite happened. Something tried to claw its way out of her. She grabbed hold of the sink’s ceramic sides, desperately needing to hold it back.
But she couldn’t.
The grief erupted.
Rune gripped the sink and broke into silent, quaking sobs as the sadness wrapped around her like chains, pulling her down with its weight. She was so overwhelmed by it, she almost didn’t hear the door open behind her.
Though her vision was blurred with tears, she saw forest green flash across the mirror.
Great. Soren has sent one of his guards to fetch me.
