Page 170 of Love & Heart Braking

What? “Why?”

“Wedding.” The guard locked the door and walked away.

Right. I pulled a face. They didn’t want anyone to see how crappy they were treating me. I pressed against the bars but didn’t release my pent-up breath until I heard the top door of the dungeon wing slam shut.

Only time would tell if I’d gotten away with all that.

37

I sat as the last curled piece of my hair was pinned into place. The stylist stood back to assess her work as the makeup artist painted on my soft pink lipstick. Purple and pink glittering designs covered my forehead from temple to temple, giving me a slanted fairy-like appearance that was enhanced by my up-do that appeared like an artful mess of curls—one that took the last two hours to achieve. My skin, healed last night, had been charmed to a silvery-white, glittery radiance.

“Done,” the makeup artist announced.

The stylist, who hadn’t uttered a peep the entire time, simply packed her things away.

The door burst open.

“Get out,” Austin said imperiously, eyes flashing blue fire.

With gasps and hurried curtsies, the women ditched their tools and bolted. As soon as the door was closed, Austin tossed out a no-gossip charm.

I quirked a brow. “Should I call you Master Lanaray?”

He straightened the jacket of his black tux. “Can’t believe that worked. I’ve been out in the hall for the last ten minutes trying to think of a way to talk to you alone.”

I tightened the belt of my robe and eyed the hanging dress in distaste. “So. Wedding day.”

He paled. “Wedding day. I just wanted to come and say goodbye. I don’t want you and the others to worry about me. This is the choice I can live with. My family will be safe, and I’ll figure out a way to exist with Smolder.” He pressed his lips together.

Against a surge of bile?

And he really expected them to just leave his family alone after they tied the knot?

“Austin. We aren’t leaving without you,” I said matter-of-factly, standing to approach my wedding attire. I wasn’t even sure how to get into it. “Have you spoken to Lerome since yesterday?

“No, the Cinereses haven’t let me out of their sight until this morning. They were expecting me to escape.”

“Lerome said your family is being frozen using electricity. If we cut that off, they’ll unfreeze. The source is close to Lerome’s dungeon wing. He can hear the buzzing.”

Austin’s glacial blue gaze widened. “Really? Electricity? I’ve been sneaking to the door to try to guess the deactivation phrase for the last week.”

“Can you get to the source? You seem to be able to move freely.”

“That’s overselling it,” he said. “But I’m freer than you. My family would need time to warm up enough to fly. If I could cut off the supply now, then get inside to heat them later, that should work.”

This was about timing. I’d thought over it all night. “We can’t give the Cinereses enough time to make a contingency plan.”

“I just don’t know if I can sneak away later. I’m part of the main act, and they’re suspicious of what I might do.”

I felt sick on his behalf. “Fire will help them?”

“Yes. Blankets. Anything to help their fire strengthen.”

“Okay. If I get there somehow, then I’ll know what to do. Did the Cinereses say anything last night about the breach in biohazard?”

He shook his head. “I watched the guards searching the garden from my tower.”

I turned. “Did they find anything?”

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