The Vows We Never Chose

didn'

notebook were etched into her mind like carvings in

hat h

with a brittle smile, always in black lace, who used to wa

was cold. Now she thought s

eparations beg

mily members Eliana hadn't seen in years. Everyone spoke in low,

ross the courtyard in a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled, collar u

finally met hers

r. Not a

gnit

ready tell she'd

ou like it or not," Grace hissed behind h

he corset of the dress they were forcing

sister died for nothing? You're here be

elia," Eli

. "She had too much hea

are. Gold-framed mirrors, silk sheets, and a mountain of diamond-stud

ss the courtyard, where she could see Adrie

hing

ia in her hand and held it up

ned and wal

a waited until th

er. If anyone caught her, she'd say she was looking for a quiet place to w

't headed to

to Claudia D

na had been told to avoid it. Too many locked doors. Too many dead e

cracked open slightly, as if someone had just

e

s. No music. Just the faint

e, brushing her silver hair, l

e said without turning. "Celia came h

on the notebook. "Then

. And I'll tell you the same thing I told he

id of secrets

t to marry into a family th

ou think Adrien's the villain. But you don'

a spat. "I need the truth. Did y

d out a velvet box. Inside was a silver necklace-

. "And her phone. She told me she wa

hy

y. "Ask Adrien. If he doesn't tell

m, Eliana didn'

ore dawn and crossed the

it before

t for the vow

ut your fath

sion turne

eting with him th

om was dark, the curtains drawn, and the sc

dead," he s

He jumped. After Celia t

did sh

er for a long time

The Devereux and Hart lineages were tied by something

t him. "What ki

er dead in the