Page 97 of Blood So Brutal

“Today, we will witness the union of a century. Wolf Jasper, son of the archangel, will marry Huntyraina Fullmall Gawerula, heir to the blood throne. Together, they will rule Scarlata Empire. They will rebuild what was ripped to shreds. They will build this power, not in solitude, but alongside us! With time and discipline and loyalty to the crown, we will have the entire blood kingdom bowing before us!”

The crowd erupted, and I bit my cheek to keep from vomiting.

Asmodeus lifted his hand, and the crowd silenced.

“Let us begin the traditional marriage ritual of the angels.”

He turned around, now facing Wolf and me. “First, you both will draw blood to signify the eternity of life.”

Focus on Wolf. Focus on Wolf.

Wolf gripped his blade, running the sharp tip down the center of his palm, then doing the same to mine.

Someone shouted in the back of the room, followed by more frantic screams, but I barely heard it. I was frozen, stuck. Unraveling with every passing second.

Wolf’s eyes ripped away from mine and widened, the only sign of panic as screams spread and spread.

I finally turned to look.

Smoke filled the air, spreading further into the ballroom, closer and closer to us.

“What is that?” Wolf asked. “Where is that coming from?”

My stomach sank.

Fire.

The damn castle was onfire.It seemed to be coming from the hallway we just entered from, but there was no other exit to the grand ballroom. The dozens of fae and angels who came to witness this marriage were panicking, shoving, screaming, desperate for a way out.

It all happened so fast.

“Enough!” Asmodeus yelled, but he couldn’t be heard over the roar of screams in the ballroom. “Enough, everyone! We must complete the ceremony!”

“The castle is burning!” Wolf screamed. “We need to get out of here!”

Asmodeus faced us with rage over his features. “Finish the ceremonynow!You must marry!”

“But it could be a?—”

“Now!”

The entire room shook with the force in his voice. I squealed in panic, quickly taking Wolf’s bloody hand in mine. I squeezed my eyes shut, focusing on my magic, calling it forward how Wolf taught me.

More people screamed. Luseyar was yelling something now, louder than the roar of voices. It sounded something like an attack, but I quickly shook the thought away.

We were not being attacked during the damn wedding. This wasn’t fucking happening.

“Finish it!” Asmodeus yelled.

Wolf began reciting words in a language I didn’t understand, and I opened my eyes to find him breathing hard, head tilted back as he fought to finish what his father started.

Asmodeus cared so much about this damn union that he would risk being stuck in this castle during an attack? He wanted us to be unitedthatbadly?

My senses flared to life, becoming too aware of the absolute chaos surrounding us.

A large boom shattered Wolf’s concentration, and we held onto each other tighter as the floor shook.

Was the damn castle crumbling?

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