Page 48 of The Nightmare Bride

Anger sparked beneath my breastbone. Anger and something deeper, something I didn’t want to look at in the eyes. I marched up to him, my soles dragging across the carpets.

He smiled, so smugly it made me want to slap him again.

Or kiss him. Oh, goddess, I really did want to kiss him again. I wanted everything again, even though he was already all over me—his sweat, his scent, his essence. And still, I craved more. I wanted to rub it all in, soak him up until he became a permanent fixture in my pores.

What a useless, pointless wish. “Get out of my way.”

“No.”

I crossed my arms, mirroring his pose, though my chest didn’t flex and bulge the way his did. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“Well, we both know that’s nothing new.” His eyes gleamed a challenge. “And all you have to do is say five words. ‘Kai, I don’t love you.’ That should be easy, considering how adamant you’ve been about hating me.”

I tried to do exactly that, then gave him a silent snarl when the words wouldn’t come. They lodged in my chest, nowhere near making it to my throat.

Because I did love him. Of course I did—halfway, or all the way, or who fucking cared, really? It didn’t matter. This wasn’t about me.

“I’m going now,” I snapped.

A flash of victory illuminated his face, and... Gods among us, I knew that look. Great. Now I would never get rid of him.

Thankfully, when I angled past, he let me go. I stomped away, whisking my clothes from the floor and slamming the bathroom door. Curses sprang from my lips as I dressed.

By the time I reemerged, the bedroom was blessedly empty. The annulment certificate lay on the bed, complete with a second signature. I snatched it up on my way to Amryssa’s room.

When I threw open her door, she beamed.

“What?” I snarled. I’d never been so short with her. “Just what the fuck is so fucking amusing to everybody this morning?”

She tried to smother her laughter with a hand. With no success whatsoever. “I’m glad to see you in such high spirits.”

I glowered. “I’m not in high spirits. I’m in pissed spirits.”

“But why? You’re married now. Completely. And were incredibly loud about it, might I add.”

“Oh. Gods.” Warmth drained from my cheeks. “You heard that?”

“It was impossible not to. At least the first time. Well, and the second. And the third. And the?—”

“All right.” I flung a palm in the air. “You’ve made your point. Just...” I cast a frantic glance around, then remembered the annulment and thrust the paper at her. “Here. This came, and it’s signed. Which makes Kai not my husband anymore. In a few minutes, he’ll be your husband.”

That sobered her. The amusement dropped from her face. “You and I both know that’s not valid.”

That gave me pause. I couldn’t fathom how she knew that.

“I told you weeks ago he wasn’t who we thought,” she continued.

I stiffened, but she was right. She had told me, and I’d deemed it nonsense. For years, I’d deemed her musings nonsense, when all this time, she’d seen things more clearly than I had. Maybe because she was divine, or maybe just because I was an idiot.

Either way, I shrank inward, collapsing on myself. “Okay, yes, you did. And I should’ve listened. All this time, I should’ve listened to you. I’m sorry I haven’t been better about that.”

“It’s all right.” She gifted me with a smile I definitely didn’t deserve. “You’ve done your best.”

“I’ve...tried.” I went to the bed, suddenly meek, and sat. “I hope you know that everything I’ve done, I’ve done for you.”

“I do know. Though I wish you’d put yourself first, sometimes.”

“I have, though. I do.” I heaved a sigh, my anger spent. “I mean, that’s all last night was, Am. Me being selfish. Because I definitely shouldn’t have had sex with your husband all those times. I just...I don’t know. I couldn’t help myself. I’m sorry.”

“I’m not,” she said.

A fleeting smile passed over my lips. “Well, whatever. It’s finished.

Now we’ll get you to Hightower and start over.

I’ll do a better job of listening to you, and you’ll eat all the food we can find, and things’ll get better.

There won’t be any nightmares to deal with.

No swamp goddesses whispering your name. ”

Her gray eyes turned solemn, her regard steady. “And you’ll be happy there.”

“Yes. You, too. I just need you to marry Kai, okay? Without telling anyone who he is. Or isn’t. Please.”

She pressed her lips together. “All right. Then I’ll wear the dress, if you want. Stand in the library. Say the words. I’ll even let him kiss me, if it pleases you.”

I swallowed hard. It would do the exact opposite of please me, but whatever.

I’d survive.

Within minutes, I was standing at Amryssa’s vanity, pinning up her hair while she fiddled with her gown. It was the same dress I’d worn months ago, and I tried to shut out the memories it evoked.

But I could practically feel the scratch of the cypress vine around my wrist. The weight of the marriage crown circling my scalp.

My thoughts wandered. What would’ve happened if I’d stopped Kai from untying our vine that night? If we’d left it on until morning, as intended, would Zephyrine have blessed our union?

Goddess. I shook myself. Get a grip .

I forced my focus back to my task, pinning a crown of braids atop Amryssa’s head.

Her gaze caught mine in the mirror. She gave me a hopeful smile. “Ready?”

I smiled back. “I think I’m supposed to be the one asking you that.”

“Oh, but I’ve been ready since the beginning. Or willing, at least. I’m just glad that this time, I don’t have to be afraid.”

My smile wavered, but she was right. This wedding was a definitive upgrade from the last one, seeing as how it didn’t involve me having to murder anybody.

She dropped her eyes and smoothed the white lace over her lap. “I do wish my mother were here, though.”

“Your mother? As in...Zephyrine?”

“No. My mother . I wish... Well, I know this wedding doesn’t actually mean anything. But I wish she could’ve seen it, anyway. It would’ve brought her joy.”

My chest ached, and I gave her bony shoulders a squeeze. “I wish that, too. But...do you want the diary, maybe? You could read her letter again. Before we go downstairs.”

Her smile returned. “I’d like that.”

“Then I’ll go get it. It’s in my room.”

I moved to the door. When I opened it, there stood Olivian, his fist raised to knock. He turned his nose up and sniffed, as if my very existence offended his sensibilities. “Did you sign the annulment?”

I ironed out the sneer already taking shape on my face. “Of course. It’s there on the bed.”

“Good. Then find somewhere else to be for a minute. I need a moment with my daughter.”

I flashed him a cold smile and slipped past.

In my room, the bathroom door was closed. Most likely, Kai had already inhaled his morning allotment of bacon and returned to put on his wedding attire. I approached the closed door, regretting my caustic words from earlier.

I’d simply have to explain that we had no future. That my future had been decided the moment I’d met Amryssa.

I lifted my hand to knock, but a sound stayed my hand. Paper rustled behind me, like a page being flipped.

I turned. “I thought you were in?—”

My words died on my tongue. Because there was Vick, sitting on my bed, casual as can be. And he was reading the Lady Marche’s diary.