Page 73 of Remi's War (Four Dark Horsemen 2)

“What about the veil?” Erica asks, picking up a black box from the nearby chair. “It’s very pretty and would look amazing with this dress.”

A veil.

Doesn’t it signify the purity and happiness of the bride?

To wear a veil would be spitting on this belief and tradition; besides, a veil won’t save this marriage from a disastrous ending once the villain finds out he wedded the ugly duckling instead of the swan.

I shake my head.

“And another one objects to a veil. What’s wrong with all their brides?” Erica mutters under her breath, and my brows furrow.

Another one?

Before I can dwell on this, a knock followed by heels clicking on the floor cause my gaze to shift to a newcomer.

I blink in surprise; I’ve never seen a more stunning woman in my life, and considering I’ve been surrounded by beauty my whole life, it says a lot.

Even Amalia doesn’t hold a candle to her, as bad as that sounds.

She has long black hair falling down her back in heavy waves. The bright light reflects through the wavy, silky strands that reach her bottom.

Her blue eyes remind me of the clear sky on a summer day and stand out like two diamonds against her tan skin. The woolen dress wraps around her body, showing the generous curves of her breasts, butt, and the slight bump of her stomach, which is almost invisible to a passerby. My best friend gave birth to a healthy baby boy a year ago, so I know how a pregnancy bump in the early stages looks.

The dress ends slightly above her knees, revealing her long legs, and as she steps closer, her scent, roses mixed with orchids and lavender, washes over me.

Ah, the famous heiress to the throne and the Four Dark Horsemen’s princess they all love to dote on. Even Octavius’s sister, Estella, doesn’t get as much attention as this girl does.

Maybe because she’s eleven years younger than them, so they all feel protective of her, especially her older brother Santiago.

While she has the combined features of her father and mother, her overall appearance screams Rebecca Cortez. They all have the same warm gaze that invites you to tell them your secrets, because you will not face judgment from them.

Only acceptance and love.

Is this why they love the dark four? No way in hell they don’t know about their deeds, and besides, they invited her to the wedding.

So she must know it’s all one big ploy where a man forces a woman to marry him, or otherwise, people will die.

She stares at me for a second before widening her plump lips in a smile. “Jimena Cortez,” she introduces herself, and then to my astonishment, she hugs me so tight she squeezes the air out of me. “Welcome to the family!”

Since this woman has nothing to do with the actions of my fiancé, I reply, “Thanks.” And I pat her back awkwardly for several moments before leaning back. “I’m not a willing participant in this wedding, though.”

Acting as my twin is one thing, but pretending like I’m on board with this spectacle is quite another.

Besides, Amalia has been refusing his advances for years now, so her resistance to marry Remi must be common knowledge at this point.

A gasp echoes in the room, and I groan inwardly at Erica and Aly’s shocked expressions; I’d forgotten about their presence.

“I’ve heard that one before,” another soft voice speaks up, and I see a woman enter. Softer and curvier than Jimena, and while she can’t be called beautiful, she has a magnetic presence about her.

Her brown hair falls down her spine and contrasts with the beige pencil dress that emphasizes her unusual eyes.

One is green and the other is dark brown. They shine with curiosity as she studies me from head to toe before grinning. “Briseis.” The name doesn’t ring a bell, and she must read the confusion on my face, because she adds, “Santiago’s wife.”

Oh.

From Erica’s chat earlier, I know they got married a little over two months ago. Was this enough time for her to get used to the idea and accept this prison of a life? To the point of attending a wedding where another bride is forced to marry one of their own?

Sometimes, understanding women is beyond my comprehension.

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