Page 205 of Bride By Coronation

Dinging sounds start to go off across the arena.

Sean adds, "That's everyone's inbox. Brax and I hacked into Ulrich and Jytte's private chats. Everything is documented."

"He's lying!" Jytte accuses, pointing at Sean.

"Free our Majesties! Free our Majesties," the crowd chants.

The knights circle the couple.

"No!" Ulrich shouts.

Sean and Brax release us from the guillotines. I rise and help Fiona up, then tug her into me.

She shakes worse than before.

I bark, "Bring the queen her royal robe! Now!"

An Omni appears with our robes. I help Fiona into hers, tie it, then put mine on. I point at the Koches, roaring, "The only ritual we'll be completing tonight is the Black Veil!"

The crowd gasps. No Omni has ever been the center of a Black Veil ritual.

Men roll out two metal poles in the shape of an upside-down L. Wire hangs from it with a noose on the end.

A bridal gown and tuxedo appear.

"Get dressed," I order Ulrich and Jytte.

Tears stream down Jytte's cheeks. "Kirill?—"

"Do it," I snarl, holding Fiona tighter to me.

Ulrich claims, "This has been a big misunderstanding. We were given false information?—"

"Don't make me tell you again," I warn.

Slowly, the two get dressed. Zara adds a rose to Ulrich's lapel.

Valentina positions a bouquet of long-stemmed roses in front of Jytte, instructing her, "Hold these."

Tears drip from Jytte's jaw as she begs, "Kirill, please!"

"Hold the flowers," I instruct.

She closes her eyes, squeezes the stems, and screams "Ow!" when the thorns dig into her skin.

Valentina takes a wire and pins her hands so the roses won't fall. Blood drips down her wrists.

Jytte whimpers.

Brax and Sean grab the metal nooses and place them around Koches' necks and a rope around their armpits.

Valentina adds a veil to Jytte's head.

"This is a mistake!" Ulrich yells.

"Yeah. A deadly one. Raise them into the air," I order.

Knights crank on the wheels until Ulrich and Jytte hang in the air.

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