Caged Bride

eil i

resisted the urge to scratch, to tear it away, but her fingers remained curled around th

alls, casting soft shadows on the altar. It smelled of polished wood, old books, and something sterile-formality, per

on her father's arm, not when they'd faced the prie

to steady h

The Morettis didn't offer second chances. This wasn't a

ing into one indistinct murmur. Something about honor, obedience,

nt, slid onto her finger by Dante's unfeeling hand. He said the words

kiss th

le

oldness in his eyes. No warmth. No curiosity. Just calculation. He leaned forward a

e turn

bespoke suits and diamond-draped women who all seemed to know something

s. Dante M

k countryside. Aura sat stiffly across from Dante in the back seat. His posture was relaxed, but distant. He stared out the w

at he

d less like a welcome and more like the mouth of a beast. Beyond them, the mansion sprawled like something o

interior was all sharp lines and subtle menace-marble, black oak, golden accents that glimmered under th

se, he paused, final

u will be briefed tomorrow. For tonight, your room is in the west wing. Second

the implication sat l

because she didn

ded. "And do not mista

there was nothing to say. Nothing tha

nd disappeared up the other staircas

cted affection-this wasn't that kind of story. But the sh

way leading to her room was dimly lit, paintings of old men with cruel e

e, the maid opened it without

, a gilded mirror, soft rugs underfoot. It was more suite than bedroom-but

her, the silence settled

Each motion felt like shedding someone else's skin. The veil,

could just see the tops of the wrought-iron gates in the distance, guar

bed. The sheets were cold

lightly, and she cle

it come

ome something she wa

t's done. This marriage saves us all. Be

t like a child

his

his

thi

med on its own, automate

on the ceiling, mind spinning lik

as ma

ho hadn't

she hadn

she no longe

d her like invisible fingers, Au

st walked int

pped into

Moretti he

ling the sheets over her bod

soft

fr

just locked...

llway, just beyond the heavy

't last