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“Boyfriends aren’t allowed.” Bella’s eyes are huge with fear.
“We have to get out of here. We can sneak out the–”
“The wedding is about to start.” Bella shakes her head. “The families are already here in the sanctuary. You’d never make it past their men.”
“Fuck.” I keep my grip on Charlie. “Then I’ll just have to fight my way out. You stick close to me, and I’ll do what I have to do to get you to safety.” I pull the pistol from behind me, gripping it easily. Like a handshake from an old friend.
“No.” Charlie presses her palms to my chest. “There are women and children. The Prophets or whatever they are–they keep all those women and force them to bear their children. It’s not their fault. We can’t hurt them. If you get into some sort of shootout, you could risk them.”
I grate my teeth and look around the dressing room. There has to be something here I could use. My gaze settles on the huge, puffy dress in a pile on the floor. An idea–a bad one–forms in my mind.
“Does it have a veil?” I ask.
Bella blinks at me, her sunken eyes giving a tired owl look. “What?”
“The dress.” I yank it up. “Does it have a veil?”
“Of course. The Prophet isn’t allowed to set his eyes on his holy bride until they are sealed.”
“Rowan, what are you–”
I kiss Charlie hard again, needing her taste on my tongue, then pull away and start unbuttoning my shirt. “Get me dressed, ladies. I’m about to get married.”
24
CHARLIE
“I don’t think this will work.” Bella holds the dress up. Yeah, Rowan is not going to pass for a bride. It’s almost laughable that he thought he could. He is also never going to fit into that dress. “Are you, ah...” Bella’s eyes widen when Rowan gets half the buttons of his shirt undone.
“Stop taking your clothes off.” I smack at his hands. “We need another plan.”
“Kill them,” Bella whispers, surprising the hell out of me.
“Plan to,” Rowan says, like it’s a done deal. Bella nods in agreement, enjoying the idea herself.
She might fear them, but she also wants them dead. I’ve never wished death on someone before today. I can’t believe my mother willingly comes and goes from here. The others are trapped. Not her; she could have escaped at any time. Instead, she chose to drag me into this with her. I should hate her for that, but I won’t if we can free the women. At least then this all won’t be for nothing.
“If you take out Prophet Micah or Jacob, they won’t know what to do. Everyone blindly does what they say. If they aren’t here then…” Bella trails off. You have to cut the head off. Gross, but not grosser than what’s been happening here. A quick death for them is too kind, but if that’s what works and keeps the girls here safe, then so be it.
“Will everyone be at the wedding?” Rowan asks her. I can see the wheels spinning in his head. His expression is so intense it’s almost as if he’s another person. One that I don’t know.
“Yes, it’s the Prophet’s firstborn getting married.”
“He’s not getting fucking married,” Rowan grumbles.
“You’re going to have to surprise them. It’s the only way.” I take the dress from Bella’s hand. If everyone is distracted, Rowan can make a surprise attack. “Everyone’s attention will be at the front.”
“I’m not sending you out there to him.” I’m already wiggling out of my clothes to put the dress on.
“This dress is hideous.” Bella helps me get into it. “There is no other choice. We have to act now or you go for help.”
“I’m not going fucking anywhere without you. Charlie, I—”
“Make sure we don’t get to the kiss the bride part.” I cut him off. I know there is no way in hell Rowan will allow that to happen. That will put some fire under his ass. Though he might already have enough.
“The only thing he’ll be kissing is his life goodbye.” The tone of his voice is deadly serious. I button his shirt back up. God, I love this man. I can’t lose him. For the first time in my life, I know where I belong. It’s with him.
“You should go. I’m sure they’ll be coming for me at any moment.” I fight back tears, not wanting him to leave but knowing there is no other option. I can do this. I’ve spent so much of my life on my own. Oddly, that might be my mother’s undoing.
“I’ll burn this whole place to the ground if something happens to you.”
“I think you should burn it either way.” Rowan claims my mouth in a hard, deep kiss. “I’ll see you at the altar,” he vows before he reluctantly slips away.
“I can’t believe this is happening,” Bella whispers as she helps me finish getting ready for this stupid wedding. The dress has to be pulled in. “Prophet Micah was right.” I stiffen, scared Bella might be having second thoughts. “Today is going to be a big day for us all.” A smile plays at Bella’s lips. “Take this.” She presses a small pair of metal scissors in my hand.
