Page 78 of Bride By Initiation

"I thought I had to take it with me," I say, telling myself I'm just playing his game.

"No. We'll bring you one in her size when the time comes to say your vows."

Vows.

My stomach flips.

"Come on. I don't have all day," he says, impatiently bending his fingers.

I hand him the ring, and he puts it in the box and shuts it.

I stare at the box. "You seriously just have a ton of rings sitting around for twelve women?"

He nods, his face serious. "Aye, we know all their sizes. We make sure we have everything prepared for tonight. It's a special night, and it only happens when there's a full moon, so it's special for many reasons."

"What does the full moon have to do with it?" I question.

Nostalgia lights up his expression. "Your dad loved full moons."

That feeling in the pit of my stomach claws at me again. I grind my molars.

Byrne looks at his watch. Excitement grows on his face and matches his voice. "It's time. Now, look for the redhead as soon as you enter the room. Make sure you convince her. She has to choose you as well."

"What if I want another one?" I ask, not that I'm going to go through with this crazy charade.

Byrne's eyes turn to slits. "You can't choose another one. The redhead is the one."

"But what if someone else catches my eye?"

His tone turns stern. "They won't. It's meant to be the redhead. Your father already promised you. This is your destiny."

"Promised me to whom?"

"To her parents. And they promised your father she was to be yours."

"What about my mother?" I question.

He gives me more of his silent treatment.

I scowl.

He offers, "I won't have to stay silent forever, son."

If anyone else called me son, I'd tell them not to. I don't know why I don't with him, but I let it go.

He pats my shoulder. "Come on now. It's time."

Part of me wants to turn, leave, and not go any further with this debacle, but I still want inside The Underworld. If this was my father's secret world, then I'm supposed to be part of it. I'm sure of it.

And I want to find out everything he had planned. I know there's a reason for it. He couldn't see it through, but surely I'm supposed to if it was his doing?

But I'm not marrying anyone, especially this redhead, whoever she is. And I don't care about her parents either.

Byrne leads me down more dark hallways and then when we turn the corner of the last one, I hear music with deep drum rolls. Something about it is terrorizing. It's so strong it sends a shudder down my spine.

He gets to the door, puts his hand on the handle, and glances up at me, warning, "Make sure you choose the redhead."

I don't reply.

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