His Stand-in Bride

aned open, and the worl

in reds and blues. The scent of old wood and candle wax wrapped around me, heavy, suffocating.

My heels clicked against the stone like the

ed the pews. Eyes turned. Hundred

the crowd, hushed but sh

s not

is

er dau

is hap

ng against the veil. I wanted to turn, to run, but my father's hand pressed firm

e hissed, his voi

wal

in my skull like a threat. The aisle stretched endlessly, l

Rey

and business reports. Words like ruthless, brilliant, dangerous alway

eneath making his skin seem sharper, more severe. The light from the windows struck his dark hair, and for a second he looked like a s

nd undeniable. He was magnetic in the way a storm was magnetic: beautiful, te

il brushed against my cheeks, soft lace against damp skin.

breath tight, bouquet

as if he were examining an investment he'd been swindled into buying. His jaw shift

echoed: "We are gat

ry beads as the priest turned a page, the faint cough of someone in the front p

lipped, precise, devoid of warmth. He didn't speak

e said, tone fl

lightly in my hands, and I almost dropped it. My

tammered, the words tasting like ashes. My lips quivered around them, m

ed. "You may no

the bare skin of my cheek through the delicate fabric. Heat shot across my

ed, and his e

me like a blow. My brea

t. The one whose touch still haunted my skin, whose lips

at of his body pressing mine into hotel sheets. My nails clawing his back, his low voice in my ear.

d me he hadn't f

ate, as if he had already expected this unveiling. His gaze slid down, slow and

ched my cheeks beneath the cath

kno

t again, distant and hollo

ween us was thick, burning, the faint scent of cedar and cle

de of my cheek. Cold, perfunctory

it was a transaction. S

, confused. The whispers started again

sn't Am

e marry the

ey tric

nds trembled as Nate's arm slid around mine, guiding me

ed like fire across my skin. My gown dragged behind me, heavy and suffocatin

my ear, warm against my skin. His

, so low only I could hear, "the M

chest tightened, and for one fleeting moment, I wished I could van

y arm was iron, and