The Wolf's Bride

t of ambition. Crystal sparkled on every surface of the ballroom, and th

nce, perfected by silence. And tonight

ressed in white gold, corseted breathless, my hands trembling beneath velvet gloves. Every ma

d a rumored arms pipeline, held my hand like I was merchandise

ce absent of warmth, scanning the

y. I'd practiced this moment: the tilt of my chin, the practiced bli

n who'd once tried to kill him, now clinking flutes like

urmured, my voice

eleased my hand like he was

er. Each step echoed too loud. Too sharp. My heels cracked against the marble as

I hea

e half-shrouded by dista

er. Don't pretend you didn'

t the way a child knows thu

, deeper, unfamiliar.

age," my fat

mirror beside me. My reflection stared back, green eyes too shar

ov will take

d away, the sound of that name deton

sped it in. The wind tugged at my hair, kissed my bare s

I hea

um of an e

a black van roll to a silent

oth. To

before my m

ra

oming in sacrificial red. The party lights couldn't follow me here. Only the

en V

hrough underworld corridors like ghosts, efficient, ruthless

ty and fear. And n

hed th

behind

's t

ans

my throat. I took one

f gravel ben

uick. A shadow l

ierce of a nee

th, but the scr

I fell. Arms too st

it," a voic

d for air, my vi

roses, thorns like knives, and the f

sil

kne

rd chasing

iver

nd the dark, a

My limbs were sandbags, my eyelids nailed

at

stench of

n't m

car

ered through the

ller than

l brea

e. Look at h

move. Nothi

de of my chest. My mind screame

now. The pr

ed my cheek.

e deep in my body, i

ar my ear. "Sweet d

ime in my arm. Heat.

n't s

oul

d sank

didn'

wai

of stone

irst thing I f

. But somehow, the wa

oo fast. Th

teel. S

andle. Just stone, steel, and the

ne, replaced with soft black cotto

od, s

er of the room, red light bl

ere wa

re, I wasn't the daug

he coll

ainst the wall. It w

d that had s

ss o

l slid

oth, lethal, poured i

home, V

n't a

something old

fe

so

hing

hung

ilence that w

ways g