“All of them.Frances and Jennifer areTanya’snieces.”
I curse.Wiping my blade on my bloodstained tunic, I scowl.“Move the wedding up to fifteen minutes.I’m going to get changed.Make sure my bride’s ready at the altar.”
“Yeah… about that…” Nicholassaysfrom over Fabia’s shoulder.He stillholdsher wrapped in his arms.Her hands stillgrabat his wrists, but at least she’squiet now.
“What?”I snap.
“She’s having second thoughts.”
My eyes lock on to Fabia.“You said youcantalk her out of second guessing herself?”
Shaking her head, she gasps.“No.I won’t do it.I won’t let her marry a monster.”
Her eyes flickerto the women at her feet.
“She can either marry me, or she can join the women on the floor.”
Fabia’s face pales.Her lips waver.But shedoesn’tcower.“No.”
“You will,” Isaysoftly, “or I will kill you first and make her watch.I suspect that will hurt her more than any blade.”
A single tear slipsdown her cheek.“You’re amonster.”
I shrug.“So I’m told.”
Sixteen
Agood brownie is never difficult.
I’d swear off sex for her.- Arienna
“Fabia!”Jumping to my feet, I launch myselfat her.I expect her to try to shove me awaylike she always does, but her arms hang loosely at her sides.Grabbing her shoulders, I hold her at arm’s length.My own needs fade away under the paleness of her features.“What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.“But you have to marry –” She swallowshard, her pulse hammeringin her neck.
I frown.“There’s blood on you…” My grip tightensas my eyes scan her body.“Did he hurt you?Are you in pain?I’ll tell him off.I’ll –”
“No.”She pullsme into a hug.“I’m okay.It’s you I’m worried about.”
“Me?”
Pulling me down onto the seat, sheholdsme in her arms.Mystomach twistsin concern.My pulse startsto beat rapidly again as I waitfor her to speak.Thisisso unlike her.If Richard hurt her…
“The wedding has been moved up to now,”she tells me.“Nicholas is standing outside.As soon as we’ve spoken, wewill head to the hall.”
“But I don’t even know if I want to get married!I need to talk to you about –”
She grabsmy shoulders,grippingthem hard.“You don’t have a choice, Arienna.Youhaveto marry him.”
“Because of the peace thing, right?But I was think–”
“No.”She shakes me,shutting me up.“Because he’ll kill you if you don’t.And I’ve seen… He’ll do it, Arienna, and I can’t… You can’t let him…”
This isthe first time I’veever seen her cry.
Shocked, Icanonly stare in silence.
Then I’mpulling her into my arms and holding her close.
