Page 104 of Thief of Souls
One look at Belladonna reveals the haughty cock of her brow. She’s notthatgrateful. Or maybe she just has difficulty conceding it.
“Long live true love,” I tell her, bending over and panting as I try to recover. “And you’re welcome. Now go. The pair of you need to play your parts.”
Drawing her hood over her gorgeous mahogany hair, Belladonna arches a brow. “Your friend’s glamor is ridiculously good.”
“It almost fooled me,” Anissa grumbles.
“Don’t tellherthat.”
Belladonna smiles that little smirk I hate so much. “You do realize my dearest cousin is going to try and torture her?”
“He can try. I don’t think she’ll appreciate that.”
“As long as the truth comes out.”
“Well, that’s where you have to play your role,” I point out.
She rolls her eyes and stalks toward the door. “Where the fuck are my flowers? If I’m going to do this, then I’m going to do it right.”
Anissa grabs the bunch of night-blooming lilies and hands them to her.
“You breathe a word of this,” Belladonna tells me, “and I’ll ruin you. I can curse you again just as easily as breathing.”
I roll my eyes, but Anissa pokes her in the ribs. “Bella!”
“Thank you,” Belladonna says stiffly.
The last thing I see is the excited flash of Anissa’s smile. In her eyes, once Malechus dies, they’re finally free to live their lives the way they choose. No more political marriages bound to separate them. Without Malechus trying to drive a wedge between them, they may love each other openly.
The second they’re gone, I breathe a sigh of relief and allow myself a moment to lean back against the wall.
The first part of the plan succeeded beyond my wildest expectations.
Now Belladonna needs to make her entrance and make it clear she had nothing to do with the attempted assassination. She’ll be shocked. Speechless. Then furious as she demands to know who this imposter is.
The fun begins when she realizes I’m the one using her as a pawn—and not the other way around.
Phase two of the plan needs to be set in place.
I have a horn to find.
A fae lord to revive.
And then a sister’s rage to quell.
Soraya is going to kill me once she realizes what I’d failed to mention.
After all, the ceremony wasn’t fake. Not even I dare circumvent something while the goddess is watching, and it doesn’t matter what names they gave if their blood is bound.
Mistmark just found himself married to the wrong woman.
22
Soraya
“Let go of me!” My skirts hiss around my legs as the prince of the Court of Blood drags me into a side chamber.
Malechus shoves me through the door and slams it behind him, locking us away from the curious guests. “Are you out of your mind? What have youdone? You’ve cost us everything!”
