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ELINOR

Briar gasps, clasps both hands over her mouth, and then bursts out laughing when she sees my wedding gown.

Not quite the reaction I was expecting.

“Is it bad?” I ask nervously.

“It’s wonderful ,” she assures me, stepping closer to arrange my veil around my shoulders.

“It’s only that I recognize it, for I had it made for my own wedding.

I kept changing my mind about gowns as a way to delay my wedding to the prince.

” She smiles fondly and drapes the silk tulle around my shoulders. “You look perfect. It suits you.”

Briar turns me to face the mirror. With my red hair pinned up and studded with tiny jewels, I feel like a princess in a fairy tale.

I want to ask whether she and Killian ever married, but I suppose it doesn’t matter.

They are bound by more than laws—they have a daughter together.

I’m not sure why I even care, apart from nosiness.

“I’m nervous.”

“Completely understandable,” Briar says sympathetically. “I found it terrifying to be the subject of so much scrutiny.”

“But you’re a princess.”

“I was raised as a farmer’s daughter.” She shrugs. “I wanted nothing to do with all the pageantry. I still don’t. I’m happy to be a hermit inside my castle on Thorn Mountain.”

“I’ve had enough of being a hermit.” I stroke the lace edging of my veil. “Isolation was never my choice.”

“You’ll make a lovely queen. Now, get going lest you miss the big event!”

She gestures to the passageway leading upstairs to the small chapel. I’m glad it won’t be held in the cathedral. I might be enjoying the novelty of public attention, but a little goes a long way.

I find Tremaine and my sisters huddled in the vestibule. My stepfather shoots me a cool glance. Any fragile sprout of hope for an apology withers on the vine.

Crestfallen, I stand alone, awaiting my turn to stride down the aisle. I stare blankly at that stretch of red carpet leading to a priest, whose monotonous tone invokes the lost blessings of the fae gods and begs for their return.

If only you knew the truth, I think to myself. Their return is nothing to be wished for. But I cannot tell anyone about that.

My reverie is interrupted by Briar’s arrival. Although we’ve just met, I’m honored that she’s willing to serve as my bridesmaid.

“You look upset,” she says softly.

“I’ll be all right.” I will be. All I have to do is get to the end of that red carpet and my world will be wholly different from anything I have ever known. Forever.

But I would like nothing more than to leave this pain behind me once and for all.

Tremaine taps me on the shoulder. “A word,” he says, gesturing for me to follow him. I retreat with him into a corner with my nerves jangling. “I want you to know how sorry I am for everything I did to you.”

I blink. Subtly, I sniff for any sign of drink, but his breath is fresh and his eyes clear.

There is real contrition in his voice when he says, “I am glad you found a man who saw you for the gem you are, Elinor. I wish your parents could be here to see you. I know I have failed you as a stepfather, but I am so proud of you today.”

Tears burn my eyes. A sniffle catches me off guard. My chest aches.

“Now, don’t cry on your wedding day.” He bends to press a kiss to my forehead. For once, I don’t recoil at his touch. Instead, I throw my arms around his neck and squeeze.

“I needed to hear that,” I whisper.

“I know. I don’t ask you to forgive me. All I want is for you to live happily ever after with your prince.”

He releases me first. To my surprise, I let him go reluctantly. I swipe at my eyes, praying they aren’t as red as my hair, and jerk my chin at my stepsisters. My throat is so tight I can barely speak. “It’s time,” I whisper.

He gives me a quick, guilty nod and takes each of his daughters by the arm.

I hover in the vestibule, arms linked with Briar, watching them walk down the aisle.

Both of them are glowing, and not only with magic.

Stacia is positively radiant. I hope Othmar has a softening effect on her.

Perhaps, away from Cilla’s influence, she’ll become someone worth knowing.

Yet something still feels off.

“Ready?” Briar says, squeezing my hand when the first two couples have spoken their vows and polite applause fills the air as Alistair takes his place before the priest. She hands me my bouquet and walks down the aisle with me a few paces behind.

The weight of every eye in the audience bears down on me with terrifying force.

The King of Belterre’s rheumy gaze bores into me as I approach his son.

Briar and Killian flank us as we stand before the priest. The king’s wheezing chuckle, like a broken accordion reaches my ears.

“Will you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?” asks the priest after droning on. We have arrived at the part of the ceremony where he needs my explicit cooperation to make it binding.

“Say yes,” Alistair grits out, locking my hand in a crushing grip.

I adjust my hand in his grip, shifting our hold palm-to-palm. He grips me hard. I clutch his hand even harder. Bones grind.

“Yes,” I say. “I do.”

Despite our brief reconciliation, my heart lodges in my throat as the priest turns to my stepfather. I squeeze my eyes shut, dreading what Tremaine’s response will be.

I should have left Scinder House years ago, when it became clear that my conditions would never improve. I stayed out of love, out fear, out of devotion to a family that had long since ceased to exist.

I ran away from Alistair when I should have stayed with him. Because I didn’t trust a stranger. I should have. But mostly, I didn’t trust myself to be worthy of goodness or kindness. Or love.

But I do now. I gave him an impossible task, yet he achieved most of it, in record time.

“Does the father grant his permission for this union?”

“I do not object,” says Tremaine, clearly and loudly.

Alistair’s crushing grip eases instantly. He darts a glance at me. I stare straight ahead as the priest asks him the same question— Do you take this woman to be your wife? Alistair answers yes without hesitation.

The rest of the ceremony passes in a blur.

“I pronounce you, Prince Alistair, and you, Princess Elinor, man and wife by the power of the fae. May what they have wrought this day never be sundered. You may kiss the bride.”

“I told you, Sunshine.” The corner of his mouth curls up wryly. “You can try to run away, but there is no escaping me. You’re mine now.”

He lowers his lips to mine.

It’s a kiss as perfect as anyone could hope. Soft but firm. Possessive and hungry, yet appropriately chaste considering our audience. My heart soars as we turn to face the crowd and music swells.

Habitual awareness of my stepfather causes me to find Tremaine’s location from the periphery of my vision. He stands back, watching Drucilla and Layton, and then Stacia and Othmar, make their way down the aisle to great applause.

Once they’re out of sight, he shifts slightly. Shrinks. Shortens. Melts into another person entirely.

Maxine. I blink in shock. My heart pounds hard enough to shatter itself against my ribs. Breaking at this betrayal.

“You tricked me,” I hiss at my husband of three minutes. Turning my head slightly, I read the regret etched in his face. Strain crinkles the corners of his eyes, his mouth curving downward at either corner.

“Elinor, I can explain,” he mutters. “Damned witch was supposed to stay through the entire wedding.”

“You made a bargain with her to deceive me.” I keep my voice low enough that even the priest would have to strain to overhear me. Briar and Killian start down the aisle. Maxine blows me a kiss and darts out a side door, unnoticed by anyone else.

Alistair’s jaw ticks. “Please, Sunshine. I’ll tell you everything once we’re alone.” His grip tightens. Holding me in place. “You’re not running away from me ever again.”

“The time for truth was before we were spoke our vows in front of half the kingdom.” Fine, it was only as many people as could fit into a small, private chapel, but I felt the weight of all those eyes as if the entire kingdom was watching us.

We fall into place behind Killian and Briar. Relenting, I paste a smile upon my face. Isn’t that what I always do? Give up. Give in.

“It’s done,” Alistair growls. “You’re mine forever, Elinor.”

Fury builds in me with every step. I’m tied to this scoundrel for the rest of my life.

I’m determined to make him regret every second of it. This time, I will fight.