Page 85 of Bride By Coronation

Guilt flashes in his eyes, and he nods.

Kirill glides his thumbs over my hands again.

My family will kill me if I marry a Petrov.

"Fiona," Zara nudges.

I turn and look at her, my panic building.

"It'll be okay," she offers.

How?

Ulrich questions, "Do you take the king as yours, or do you refuse your role as queen?"

My insides quiver. I can't speak. My entire life, my family has warned me who my enemies are, and the Petrovs are one of them.

Kirill leans into my ear, stating, "I promise you I am not like the family members whose blood runs through my veins. We will figure out the logistics of everything later." He meets my eye.

For some reason, his confident stare makes me believe him.

Ulrich pushes, "Are you choosing to dismiss your vows and refuse your role as queen?"

I release an anxious breath and state, "I do not refuse my role as queen."

"Then do you take Kirill Petrov to be your eternal husband?" Ulrich repeats.

My racing heart makes me dizzy, but I state, "I do."

Kirill squeezes my hands.

Zara holds out a ring.

I take it and shakily slide it on Kirill's finger.

He grips my hands again.

Ulrich declares, "By the power vested in me by The Underworld and my seat at the table, I pronounce to you, King Kirill and his eternal queen, Fiona!"

The audience cheers so loudly my ears hurt.

Ulrich holds up his arm, and they quiet back to a low hum. He adds, "To the rest of the world, you are now Mr. and Mrs. Kirill Petrov."

Mrs. Kirill Petrov.

Oh my God.

My family will never forgive me.

"Kiss your bride," Ulrich orders.

Kirill's eyes rage with fire.

Electricity surges through my veins.

He tugs me into him and slides his hand over my throat. His scent floods me, intensifying the chaos in my core. He lifts his mask and tosses it on the floor.

Adrenaline pools in my cells. The sexiest man I've ever laid eyes on, whom I've thought about for too many hours to count, stands before me, bonded to me for eternity. His scar glows under the moon, illuminating every bad boy vibe he possesses.

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