Page 99 of Bride By Initiation

My mouth turns dry, and goose bumps pop out over my skin.

Sean jumps up, grabs the pink robe, and drapes it over my shoulders.

I slide my arms through it.

He pulls me off the bed and ties the belt around my waist, then kisses me gently. He takes his robe and secures it on his body. Then he wraps his arm around my waist.

Valentina points at something behind us.

We glance in that direction, and my gut drops.

Sean tugs me tighter to him as we stare at Kirill.

He stands next to a fire, holding a metal stick with something on the end, but it's too far to clearly make out what it is. Three men stand next to him, holding different objects.

Kirill dips the stick into the fire, and my gut spins. He pulls it out after a few minutes, and the end glows as hot as the flames. He pins his gaze on us and states, "It's time to make your final vows."

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17

Sean

"Don't worry, I'm the only one who has to do it," I murmur in Zara's ear.

She glances up in horror, her eyebrows pinned together.

"It's fine," I assure her, leading her toward Kirill.

I knew this day would come. I caught glimpses of the skull branded on all the men watching the underground fight. I assumed it was a rite of passage into The Underworld.

It doesn't surprise me that it's happening tonight. While I'm not looking forward to the pain, I want the branded skull on me. It's my father's design—his vision and a symbol that I'm part of his world, even if I'm still unsure of all it entails.

It's a short-term pain,I tell myself, doing my best to show no qualms or fear about getting branded.

It's going to hurt like a motherfucker.

Short-term, pussy.

We step in front of Kirill, and the other objects the men hold become clear. The one closest to him has a piece of wood, Iassume to bite down on. The second holds a jar of salve and some plastic wrap. The third man has a gold censer for incense and a lighter.

I look closer at the censer and realize it's the same skull design as the brand.

That's badass.

Pride fills me. My father designed a piece of art that represents something important. From what I gather, it's a symbol of change and loyalty. Seeing it in gold as well as stamped on the hands of strangers, makes me feel like he lives on and didn't just die a horrible death.

However, it happened.

I will find out who killed him and the rest of the details,I tell myself, knowing it will be easier now that I'm entering The Underworld.

A tense, eerie silence takes over the arena.

Kirill points to the man with the censer, and he lights the incense. The smoke rises out of cutouts in the roses. He walks around us, breathing loudly as if he's a dragon.

Zara gives me a funny look, and I stare at her sternly, thinking,Don't say a word, my little brat,and hoping she heeds my warning. I can only imagine the smart-ass things she might say.

When the thick scent encircles us, the man sets the censer on the floor between Kirill, Zara, and me. The smoke continues to rise from it.

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