The Vows We Never Chose

g sun, slipped beneath the estate's he

saw the image. Her eyes locked on Celia's face-alive, defiant, standing

al seconds longer be

me has

a smile tou

back," Gra

, the floo

sed in crisp morning silk, her silver hair coiled i

sed to be dead

ed, not looking at her. "

is ruins everything. The council will panic if they find out

ind them what's at stake. We play the martyr. Let Adrien protec

rrowed. "Eliana w

aid, "when she sees

rned and poured herse

ding through the Devereux family ledger with Celia. Th

ry union. Every bride and her "offerin

me had already

e it, in

Final B

red at

it mean?"

ooked a

esit

vow," he said. "You're the conclusion.

unded. "So if I g

elia finished. "You become the f

f I re

hing co

sted cot. "Then why me? Why not C

born on the blood moon. It happens once every seven generation

arply. "So I was

d softly. "But

ed into fists. "Wel

welry box-a folded paper bearing no signature, no

uth, come to the so

ed of a trap. But something about t

through the garden gates,

tain, gloved hands clasped. The a

me," sh

u hated me,"

ou," Claudia sa

ms. "Why? Because I'm

inned. "Because I

stopp

ere a

pact before Adrien was born. I fought it at first-tried to run. They cau

mach twisted

"Because I was pregnant. With Adrien. And I k

turned v

otecting him,"

iving. Like you

r head. "No. I'

you'll need more than rage. Yo

ve Ce

trust her

tiffened

red with more than secrets. She took something

ow p

did sh

er coat and handed ove

a tarnish

a ope

o of Celia.

ac

er, wearing a

is t

ur sister and your mother were ne