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Merelda's fingers tighten on my shoulder.
“Without her, I truly fear that I’ll be left helpless and alone. A mother finds herself strangely reluctant to let her only daughter go, you see. Especially one as helpful as Hazel.”
"I can assure you, Lady Godwin, that you will be well taken care of. Whether it be a large sum you require to hire help or anything else, you will want for nothing as long as Hazel and I are married."
"Oh, thank you, Lord Payne," Merelda simpers, tears springing to her eyes. "You are even more kind than I expected."
He lets out a low chuckle at this, and I'm almost impressed with my stepmother's negotiation. Not only has she found a way to get rid of me, but in the trade, she gains a new form of financial stability.
"Now, as I mentioned earlier, I'm eager to wed as soon as possible."
"Of course," Merelda says. "We'll need time to prepare a dress for her as well as all the necessary arrangements for such an affair. I believe two months should suffice."
"One."
Merelda pretends to consider his offer for a long moment, but I feel her hold on me relaxing.
Before she even opens her mouth to agree, I already know it's been decided.
As the two begin discussing some of the more minor details of the betrothal, my head swims. I'm to be married off to this disgusting monster in a month's time.
A single, solitary month.
In every way that matters, I feel like I've just been given a death sentence.
One month left to live.
9
Hazel
Standing at Merelda's side, I train my eyes on the floor, gritting my teeth together as I wait for Lord Payne to finally leave. He pauses at the door, having just pulled on a pair of suede riding gloves.
"Oh, there's one more thing," he says, turning to close the distance between us. "Bring me a candle."
I half expect Merelda to balk at his demand, but she does as he says. Holding it out for him, Lord Payne removes the glove from one hand before twisting the snake-shaped ring from his finger.
Pinching it in his gloved hand, he holds it over the fire for several minutes as Merelda and I watch on in confusion. Then, without warning, he presses the head of the snake firmly against the swell of my breast.
I cry out in pain as the hot metal sears my skin. Merelda doesn't so much as flinch, even as he grabs me to anchor me in place, his eyes never leaving my face.
A minute later, he steps back, slipping the now cool ring back onto his finger as he examines the mark it left behind.
"Will that be all?" Merelda asks, her voice unwavering.
"For now," Lord Payne says, his eyes meeting mine, full of the dark promise that awaits me in a month’s time.
My stomach knots as he bows his head once to Merelda before turning and finally disappearing into the night.
"I will not marry that man," I hiss, turning on Merelda the moment the door closes behind him.
"Don't be a fool, you ungrateful child," she replies. "It's already been agreed upon. Just be thankful that he's as rich as he is. You'll never want for anything, as long as you live."
"I'd ratherdiethan marry a monster like him."
"You're a dramatic little thing, aren't you?"
"It's the truth," I reply. "I promise you, I will die before I ever marry Lord Payne."
