Page 117 of Their Blood Queen

I’m expecting for the soft barrier to hold a platform inside, given it’s big enough for two people.

Instead, there’s a bed.

A knot forms in my stomach as I scan the Elite families who have already taken their seats.

Each row has another sheer drape. It might obscure their view, but they can clearly still see everything.

I have a sinking realization of what was intended with an “old style” wedding ceremony.

“No,” I try to say as I pull back against the two manservants escorting me in.

The Duchess pinches the back of my arm so hard that tears sting my eyes. I can’t cry out, ask for help, or even make a sound, thanks to the magic vial that had been used on me.

Duchess Rinhold leans into my ear and snarls a threat that makes me go still. “Your mother has all the anti-aging vials she needs. You didn’t think I wouldn’t find out, would you? Edward was trying to woo you, girl. Well, no need for that anymore. But we will maintain relations with your family, mostly because they are useful to us. However, if you choose to make a scene, we’ll have no need for them. So behave, or your mother will die, and you can live with that for the rest of your unfortunately long life.”

She releases me, and I stare at the bed in the middle of the room.

Edward is standing on the other side. He’s wearing a handsome marriage suit, and his hands are clasped in front of him as he waits for them to bring me.

Even if I were willing to cooperate, I’m given little opportunity. My toes barely touch the ground as I’m lifted by my elbows and escorted through the rows.

Desperation clenches my stomach in an iron grip as I scan the row of faces for anyone familiar. I spot a few I had met at the fête, but no one who I could call a friend.

I don’t know why my spirits lift with hope when I locate my brother. My father isn’t here, nor is my mother. I’m not sure if that upsets me or if I’m glad they didn’t get an invitation. It would have been more powerful to lord my mother over me if that was Duchess Rinhold’s threat, but I realize why when my brother’s gaze meets mine.

They wouldn’t sit by and allow this.

My brother, though. He seems to have been preparing me for this day my whole life.

He doesn’t have to wear a mask anymore. I can see exactly who and what he is, and he’s not hiding it. There’s cold calculation in his eyes, and the joyless smirk playing on his lips demonstrates his amusement by this situation.

I don’t deserve this.

“Sabre. Cage. Help Cain. Bring him to me. Stop this, please!”

I would have preferred to say my prayer aloud, but a mental one will have to do.

Still, when I’m brought to the central circle of sheer drapes, servants tug on ropes to open them, revealing Edward to me without the visual barrier of the drapes in my way.

On the other side of a large bed that has no pillows or sheets.

I scan the area for a priest or some sort of authority figure who would dare to sanction this sort of “ceremony.”

There’s no one. Edward himself chooses to address the room, instead, as if he’s the sole figure of authority required.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming here on such short notice,” he says as he lifts his voice and takes his time acknowledging various families. His hands are still clasped in a way that no one can see his palm, and he keeps them that way as he speaks.

The coward couldn’t even cut his hand to make it look real like they did to me.

His tongue flicks out to wet his lips before he continues. “Lady Scarlett and I are as concerned as all of you are by recent events. Our Lord Cain has gone missing, and there have been monster violations through various territories, including areas in the Elite City.

I frown as I wonder what he could be talking about. While I have been indisposed, I know of no such violations.

Cain’s absence, though, can be blamed on me.

“Because of this,” Edward continues, turning his blue eyes on me, “we have chosen the old way to conclude our courtship. The contract was written in Cain’s blood, after all. We don’t know what would happen to the future mother of my child or the Rinhold heir should anything befall our great King.”

My stomach turns sour at his words.

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