THE HEART THEY STOLE: Rebirth of the Scapegoat Bride

but it carried the

. "What's your problem now, Elara? Are you

ing of a countdown clock. "I'm worried about your health, Leo. You've always had a sensitive stomach. Who

a is a saint! She's trying to bond with her brother

e. "Seventeen years is a long time. People change. Some people get bitter. S

e veil. She quickly turned to Leo, her lip quivering. "Leo, if you don'

flask and took a long, defiant swig. "Mm. Tastes like almo

dicted. But nothing happened. He didn't choke; he didn't pale. He just looked at me with triumphant contempt. He was fine-for now. Elena was sm

w, since you've spent the afternoon being a thorn in our side, yo

with a silence that should have unsettled them, but they were too busy basking in

o serve her a bowl, and with a flick of her wrist and a practiced sob, she had pulled the hot liquid onto her own lap. She had looked at my

Father commanded, not eve

ked up at me, a tiny, jagged glint of malice reflecting in her eyes. She thoug

out with hands she had deliberately made to look sha

" I

s fork clattered against her

ce as cold as a mountain stream

. "What is this behavior? You have never refused a sin

g its tail and started showing its teeth. Elena, seeing her window of op

la

to Elena's white silk dress. She let out a sharp, practiced cry, h

, preparing to tell them I had attacked her. But I didn't

ary tureen from the

re vessel over her head. The thick, warm broth drenched her perfec

hers as she sputtered in shock. "If you're going to accuse me of something, why not

ng open, frozen in a silent scream of disbelief. They

k and smoothing my hair, "I might as well start acting like o

turned on my heel, the rose birthmark at my ear flashi

mare from the past-it was the reality of my present. My mother's grip was frantic,

from mine, her breath smelling of the expe