Page 33

Chapter 32

Adeline

“I f we’re even seconds late…” Juliette began, wringing her hands at her side. She glanced back quickly at Adeline, cheeks flushed, eyes darting to Adeline’s hair, which was coming undone with each step.

Adeline took a strained breath and tried to tuck a curl back in, but the damn chain between her hands made it almost impossible. “I know, Jules. It’s hard to run and breathe in this thing.”

Adeline’s skirts swished around her legs as she tried to keep pace with Juliette. She had to bite her tongue to keep from tearing them off her body. It had been decades since she had worn skirts as full as these, and the damn things kept tangling around her ankles. Juliette turned again, taking Adeline toward the throne room at a pace wholly unwelcome for the amount of clothing she was wearing. This dress was painfully out of style, but she wasn’t surprised. Erik clung to the idea that tradition was of the utmost importance, so why wouldn’t they all dress like they belonged in another century?

Juliette stopped and grabbed Adeline’s hand, half pulling her through another hallway.

Besides being fashionably out of fashion, Erik was also extremely punctual. She had always chalked it up to his lifespan—the older he got, the more of an asshole he became about counting the seconds. But now she knew it was because he had to have complete control. There had been times when the assassinations were delayed by circumstances far out of her control, and she had always felt his wrath because of it.

The way she loathed Erik. It was different this time, different than how she felt in the past. Now she knew he was pulling the strings on every single aspect of her life, as well as those in her life, too. She shouldn’t have ever draggedRolf into her mess. Her vengeance was hers alone, not his. She had been a fool to think that the two of them could both make it out of this game alive. Taking down Erik and the entire coven was her prerogative, and it had cost Rolf his life.

Shadows blurred the edges of her vision, a darkness pressing down around her the angrier she got. How she was going to do it, she still didn’t know. As despondent as she felt, it only helped stoke the fire of rage that bubbled underneath her surface. She could feel the heat singing her bones, burning the marrow, incinerating what had been left of her heart, and she knew that as soon as she heard Erik’s slimy, nasally voice, there was nothing to keep her from unleashing that rage and burning the whole place down to the ground.

“Hurry. Up.” Juliette’s sharp voice broke her from her thoughts.

Adeline snapped her head up, and the shadows evaporated, crawling back behind the curtains, into the cracks of the walls. She blinked a few times.

I must be weaker than I thought.

Perhaps tonight was not the night to try to kill Erik. No, she needed to be stronger. She picked up her pace once again, letting Juliette drag her along by her chains.

“I hope he’s in a forgiving mood tonight.” Something else must be worrying Juliette because the closer they got to the throne room, the more nervous she seemed.

“When is he ever?” Adeline quipped.

She would make her official appearance as Erik’s potential mate and wife, but the mere thought of actually going through the mating ritual made her sick to her stomach.

Her free hand reached up to touch the curve of her neck where Rolf had nipped her. Quiet resolve settled on her shoulders.

There was no way she would willingly replace those feelings, or his touch, or the words he spoke to her. But as much as she wanted to cling to those precious last moments in the cabin and keep everything alive, she instead shoved them deep, deep down. Erik couldn’t know that she had figured out his manipulations—he would have the upper hand all over again.

The thin scar at the base of her throat was on full display, and the neckline of the gown was low and wide; with each step, her breasts threatened to escape. With her hair pulled up, she felt even more exposed. She shivered against the thought of being so vulnerable in front of Erik again.

And for the briefest of moments, she wondered if he would be pleased with how she looked.

His displeasure was the one thing Adeline had feared above all else. She recalled, vividly, the times she had disappointed him, had refused to acquiesce to his demands. At first, he would deliver painful blows and then suddenly be so turned on seeing her in pain that his touch would turn into gentle caresses. His whispers were always desperate in their frenzied apologies, as if he were the one who should be afraid of her . Countless times, she would have to drink bottles of wine to forget what had happened.

Her stomach roiled, and the flames of anger again lit her chest up with a fiery vengeance. She’d rather die than succumb to feeling like she had to please him ever again.She refused to be afraid of him tonight.

Tonight is not the night to be caught in the past, Adeline.

No, tonight she would be the perfect future mate.

And then it hit her, her plan unfolding so beautifully. She knew exactly how she was going to get Juliette out.

Careful not to crush the crinoline fabric, Adeline picked up her skirts so she could match Juliette’s speed. If this was another test of Erik’s, she was determined to ace it. He wouldn’t get the upper hand ever again.

Adeline almost slammed into Juliette’s back as they came upon a large door. Juliette stood stock-still, breathing deeply, but her hands still shook. Adeline stood beside her and twined her fingers with Juliette’s. She was careful not to say anything, but their eyes met, and centuries of pain and fear flickered between them.

“I have a plan,” Adeline whispered, so quietly that she wondered if Juliette had even heard it. But then, as the door handles clicked, Juliette turned to her and gave her the tiniest nod. Adeline angled her hips toward Juliette, blocking the side where Juliette kept the ring of keys, should the doors open unannounced. “Put the key in my hair.”

Juliette inhaled. “I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Pretend you’re fixing my hair. Erik won’t like me looking so unkempt.” Adeline tried her best to sound calm and assured, when in truth she had no idea what she was going to do.

Behind Adeline’s shoulder, the keys jangled, and then Juliette’s deft fingers wove something cold and small and metal into one of her plaits. The doors swung open, and Adeline hesitated to step forward until Juliette’s fingers stopped fussing.

“There,” Juliette exhaled. “Perfect.”

Adeline lifted her chin, ready to pretend she was everything Erik wanted.