Page 69 of Her Blood Revenge

Shaw and Archie share a look. One I know means that they agree.

I step back. Shaw’s eyes dart in my direction on high alert.

‘Do I get a say in this?’ I ask.

‘Depends on what your say is,’ he grinds back.

I crouch and rest my hands in the moss and clover. Behind me, roots rise up and grab the dress. I never look away from Shaw as the sound of tearing fabric fills the room. I stand.

‘That’s what I say.’

He takes a step towards me.

‘You’re mine. In body. In soul. And now you will belong to me by law. You may as well have my name carved into you with how much you’re mine.’

‘Do it,’ I dare. ‘See what happens.’

‘Thalia’s gone,’ Dorian declares as he steps inside. ‘Girl can move when she wants to. And to make it worse, Leo’s gone, too. The barrier is holding for now, but it won’t be for long. Shall we go after them?’ I turn to see him look at the intense state of the atmosphere. ‘Did I miss something?’

‘Apparently, I’m being dragged down the aisle sooner than expected, and I’m just telling the walking nightmare I’m to marry that he is an idiot for willingly walking into the palace!’

‘Now the barrier is aboutto fall, and we’re entirely alone, we have no other fucking choice.’ Shaw scrunches up the letter and tosses it across the room. ‘We need to go and tell the king that Neve is back. We need to get an army ready to face her.’

‘We need to run!’ I snarl. ‘Wecan kill Neve. Why do you cling to the humans and their cruel king?’

‘Because,’ he snarls back. ‘We have lived through a war already and know more about what is needed to win than you do. We need the king’s army if we’re to stand a chance.’

‘Then you go. I will find Neve myself. I have no time for cowards.’

He blows sleep dust in my face and catches me as I fall.

‘Sometimes, you should really stop fucking talking.’

‘Suck my dick.’ My eyes close.

I jolt awake, my body jarring as I take in a deep breath. Opening my eyes, I see Archie sitting in front of me with an apologetic expression.

‘Sorry, Pix,’ he says. ‘You know what they say. Easier to ask forgiveness than permission, right?’

I quickly realise I’m in a carriage. Shaw is beside me, his eyes pure white and a nasty smile on his face. He’s walking. But it wasn’t with me.

I don’t care to ask. Not when I see the long silver dress I’m wearing, encrusted with sparkling gems and a corset bodice crushing my ribcage. On my wrist is my glamour bracelet, so my scars and kindred marks are hidden. And I’m wearing lace, fingerless gloves.

I’m in a damned wedding dress but not the one the palace sent.

‘We had it madefor you especially,’ Archie says, nodding to the dress. ‘Much nicer than the one the palace sent, don’t you think?’

I go for the carriage door and bolt, leaping out as it still moves and landing on the grass with a grunt.

The horses neigh as the carriage is stopped. I look back to see Archie peering out after me, laughing and shaking his head.

I get another three steps before I stop dead, my body gripped as if encased in marble. My feet won’t move. I can’t turn. But I know who’s riding up behind me on horseback.

‘Let me go, shadow prick,’ I warn. Dorian has my poppet doll gripped tightly in his hand.

‘You have nowhere to go, and you know it.’

‘It’s foolish to go to the palace! How can’t you see that?’

---