Page 118 of Their Blood Queen

I will never carry a child with your blood, I vow.

But I’ve come to the sickening realization of what kind of marriage ceremony this is. Edward lowers his chin with finality. “You all bear witness to our union. May it be blessed by Cain.”

My laughter at that statement would have echoed through the quiet of the room, had I not been spelled into silence.

Every Elite member holds their breath as the silks around my body are undone. I know why the style was so revealing now. I wasn’t meant to wear it for very long. I’m too numb to fight, not when I know that Duchess Rinhold will use my mother against me if I don’t comply.

But I can’t allow this to happen, either. Can I?

Fuck. What do I do?

The servant tugs the ropes again until the drapes close around us, leaving only Edward and me in the circle of sheer fabric.

He peels off his jacket as he watches me. “Come, my bride,” he says as he indicates the bed.

A shiver of defiance runs up my spine. Edward seems to have prepared for this sort of reaction, because he doesn’t seem perturbed. Instead, he pulls his shirt over his head, mussing up his hair before he works on the band of his pants.

His body is beautiful, but his soul is filthy, ugly, and wicked. His skin seems broken, as if he’s made of shards of glass. I can now see through a disguise that I hadn’t even realized was there.

Earl Rinhold’s mask was the most perfect mask of all. I might never have seen through it had I not met all three of my monster mates.

But I can see who he is now. He doesn’t care about me. The truth in his eyes says horrible things. They roll through my mind even though I don’t want to know. I don’t want to hear what this man wants to do to me.

Submit to me.

Break for me.

Bleed for me… my little plaything.

He reaches me on the side of the bed, and he rests his fingers on my hips. I try not to flinch, but my body reacts to him with revulsion.

“I know you’re nervous,” he says in a hushed whisper, as if we’re the only two people in the world. But the room is like an echo chamber. I know that everyone in the room can hear him. That’s all part of his mask.

All part of the role he plays.

I shake my head and try to back away, but he has his proverbial claws in me now. He digs his fingers into my hips and holds me in place.

“I’m sorry your mother couldn’t be here,” he continues, making me freeze. There’s a wicked gleam in his eyes that shows me the meaning he intends with those words. “There was an incident that required both the Duke and Duchess Nightingale to attend. When they return, I will personally make sure they’re invited for a visit, and that they are safe.”

He says the last word with enough emphasis for me to understand the threat.

If I don’t comply, they’ll both be killed.

And I trust the Rinholds to be able to do it. It doesn’t matter if I’m supposed to be Cain’s mate or if I’ve found two other dream monsters to take my side.

They’re trapped underneath a layer of glass in another realm, and I don’t know when or if they’ll ever be able to find their way out.

And even if they do… by then, my family will be dead.

I have to play along. I don’t have a choice, so I tremble as I allow Edward to guide me onto the bed.

There’s a sigh from the spectators as Edward reclines me onto my back, as if this is some romantic gesture as he settles himself at my side. I press my legs together and try to cover myself with my arms.

I stare at what should be the ceiling, but it’s a mirror instead. The reflection seems all wrong. The bed underneath me is black, not white.

And there are three distinct shadows lurking underneath the glass.

“I wanted you to be able to see our union for yourself,” Edward explains as he drags my hair away from my neck, then presses his lips to my pulse.

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