The devil's little bride

e: The Bride

lone in the chamber

ches, whispering things her ears weren't meant to hear. The bed, if it could be called that, looked carved

red at her

t look li

hair had tangled down her spine. Her eyes-gods, her eyes-looked older than t

for th

omach

time since she arrived, the sil

pped on glass. Whispered

Selene..

ough something inside her-something instinctual and ancient-told her

d open the

dn't

lcome

ssibly wide staircases, ceilings painted with galaxies that blink

wa

efo

darkness

did

d, it

nge warmth bloomed along her

yi

Like a

ne p

ned her. But he h

er one to follow r

lowed t

Old, splintering wood. A symbol scorched into

ched th

r didn'

ed with

ide-was

ad once b

buried in her knees. Her hair hung in matted sheets, white as snow. Her skin... translucen

e was soft. "

head. But her voice-it

now," the girl said. "A

eath caught

"You bled for him. You belong

slowly

s blood tur

l had n

ockets leakin

Because you remind him of her. The one he burned for. Th

backe

e for him,"

ound made of broken

he'll swallow you whole. He'll strip you down to you

ne t

a

alace had

was gone. In its place-

tion, a different

smil

blee

scre

preg

burn

r eyes. "Wake

oice cut thro

wande

ga

enly-he

ing. Not

t t

ed her wrist.

embled unde

me

night-flashed with something

ng Room," he said. "Y

Selene whispered. "T

linc

" he said. "They were f

s heart

happened

opped to som

d them. I begged them to leave it alone. But

stared

hey d

," he said. "Ther

grip. "What happens to

dn't

he did

rse-h

ruth was

to love me," she said. "I don't want

ed at h

her for th

sacr

a

.. Se

had never b

eople. Not b

-chosen

ot fo

methin

e rules," he said. "This realm is

s jaw t

his gaz

ness," she whisper

ssion did

hing in h

gret that,"

e walk

, he didn't l

with eyes like liquid silver, horns like obs

ew sh

wa

ce that wasn't human. "Leave your chamber agai

didn't

dn't s

idn't

, hollowed out by a truth

places here. Not

ed, the Devil stood in the highest tower, watching the

of his fi

he burned th

l who b

now resembled

sed hi

shadows

l be th