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I laugh because I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything. “And I still can’t get over that you’re wearing that jizzy ring. Like, babe, I get it—you love all the guys, even Ash, but…” she trails off and I smile.
“Yes, I know it might be weird, but this way they know that even though I am marrying Levi, they are just as important to me as him. If I could, I would marry them all.”
After Ash stormed out and left, the guys explained to me what the ring was. At first I was a little confused, as I never even knew that jewelry could be made from their DNA, but then I found it sweet in a weird, claiming way.
Even though I’m unhappy with how Ash is handling his feelings after the ‘prize’ that The Society left for them, I can understand why he thought I was hiding something. But the truth is, I have a long list of lives my family has destroyed. All Isabella and Maxen care about is money, power, and keeping both in their grasps.
I mean nothing else to them. They wanted me to kill myself, for goodness sakes.
“Chas? You okay?” Tempest asks, touching my arm.
“Yeah, sorry. I started thinking too hard for a second. All good now,” I murmur, looking at myself in the mirror. I’m wearing a pretty satin white robe with a white lace chemise underneath.
Tempest insisted I wear some pretty lingerie, even though my wedding dress is very modest. Leave it to her to still push the envelope secretly wherever she can.
My hair is up in a simple chignon, with pieces of light brown hair curled in the front. My lips are a pretty pale pink, and my makeup is understated. I’ll never be someone who stops people in their tracks, and I’m alright with that. My grandmother would also freak out if I embarrassed her on my wedding day, and she'd call me crass.
I need a super non-dramatic wedding day, please. I don’t need to be the center of attention like some brides. I just need to do this so I’ll be safe.
“Up you go now, girlfriend. Stay out of your head. Don’t you know it’s dangerous in there?” Tempest tugs me to a standing position, grinning at me. “Damn, I do good work. You’re absolutely fu—um, perfect.” She looks at me sheepishly, and if she was trying to get me to laugh, she succeeds.
Giggling, I shake my head. You can put the girl in a nunnery, but she will always be the wild child. I love her just the way she is.
Looking at my gown, I glance at my wrists. The marks are noticeable, but the cuts have finally begun to heal. I try not to care as my eyes drift over them. They are definitely going to scar, though. My dress is sleeveless, dropping lower in the back than the front. There’s a lacy section that would show my skin under my breasts, but thanks to the chemise I’m wearing, it’ll barely be noticed.
It’s more sneaky details, thanks to Tempest. I love that she went last-minute shopping with me to find the perfect dress. Taking off my robe, I take a deep breath as she helps me into it.
“Oh my God.” Tempest breathes as she zips up the back. “It’s seriously so perfect. Ugh, seeing you in the dress is going to make me cry!”
I smile, even though tears are threatening my eyes too. I love how comfortable the material is, and everything about it. I feel like a bride finally. Temp is putting my veil on when someone knocks on the door.
“Who is it?” she calls out absently as she fiddles with the veil, making sure that it sits perfectly.
“Tempest, let me in to see my granddaughter,” Mother Superior growls and we both wince. Temp runs to the door to let her in. “I have to talk to her before she walks down the aisle. Out.”
Tempest blows me a kiss as she winks before leaving.
Grandmother rolls her eyes as she closes the door.
“That girl has been guarding this room like a dragon. She’s snarled at everyone who comes near here,” she says, but there’s a slight smile on her lips. “Tempest has been a good friend to you, hasn’t she?”
My eyes widen, because I feel like this is a trap. “Yes, she has. I swear, she’s just a friend, though. I don’t know what lies other people are spreading—”
Grandmother waves her hand impatiently at me. “No, I believe your sinning ways in regards to that to be over. I wanted to talk to you about something else,” she says, her eyes running over me. “You’ve always been so pretty, Child.”
I stiffen, waiting for her to find fault with me. Instead, she surprises me by grabbing my hands and turning over my arms to stare at my wrists.
“I’ve been thinking about how we almost lost you completely. I was sent a copy of the security video, showing me what they did to you,” she whispers.
My heart starts to pound as she lightly touches my cuts.
“You are so much stronger than people think you are. It makes me wonder what else I’m wrong about,” Grandmother mutters. She shakes her head, then pulls something out from her pocket. “You have nothing to be ashamed of, and I don’t want you to think that’s why I’m giving you this.”
Opening the dark blue box, there is a sparkly bracelet inside. My right wrist is more noticeable because of my moment of weakness, and her eyes keep looking over it. There’s a butterfly on one side of the jewelry, and it reminds me of transformation.
“I wish your mother was here to see you,” Grandmother says with a small smile, looking down. “I was a happier person when she was alive, and I know that she would have better words of wisdom than I do. She loved this bracelet, and always spoke of how people change as they get older.‘We’re only this person for this year, and then we change, as we’re meant to, like this butterfly,’ she used to say. For her, it was true. She was always evolving.”
Taking the bracelet from the box, she clasps it around my wrist. Blinking furiously, I struggle to keep my eyes open really wide, so I won’t cry. I probably look psychotic, but I don’t care. The bracelet looks like it has always belonged to me, and perfectly covers the scarring on my wrist.
