“It’s white,” Nicholas scoffs.
“It’spearl.”Gesturing to me,Ajax says, “Come here, love.”
Lifting the hem of my hideous skirt in both hands, Istepoff the dais.
Thenfreeze.
My breathcatchesin my throat.
My chest tightensto the point of pain.
My palms grow damp.
A shrill ring soundsin my headas I look at the first dress that actually looks like a wedding dress.
A wedding dress.
For me.
Holy crap.I’m gettingmarried!
To a man I don’t know.
A tyrant.
A monster.
A warmonger.
Whoeatschildren.
And murdersbabies.
Andheprobably putsthe toilet paper onthe wrong way.
I gasp for breath.
I close my eyes.
“Arienna?”Nicholas says cautiously.
Ah!What am I doing?
Ican’tdo this!Ican’tmarry a man who’sknown for massacringentirevillages.He killed hisoldersisterin a fairy ring to take the throne.He probablykilledhismum and dadtoo.
And I’mgoing to let him kiss me?
Sleep with me?
Marry me?
Oh gods, no.
Hoisting my skirt high in the air, Itakeoffin a run.
The door of the suite loomsfar ahead of me.Too far.Icanhear Nicholas running after me.Questionsarethrown into the air that Ican’tanswer.Icanbarely hear them over the pounding in my skull.Ineedto get out.Ineedto escape.I need –
One footbangsinto the other.My armsflyinto the air.The skirt twistsaround my legs.Flailing, I watch as the groundcomescrashing up to meet my face.
