Chapter 4

The water dungeon beneath the punishment chamber was bone-chillingly cold.

Putrid water rose above my knees, thick with leeches that fed on magic.

I hung suspended from heavy iron chains, not an inch of my body left unscathed.

An entire night of flogging.

But I hadn't cried out once.

I just bit down on my lip, carving every ounce of humiliation and hatred into my bones.

Soon. It would be soon.

At dawn, the iron door groaned open from the outside.

Lucian walked in wearing a sleek black wedding suit, immaculately groomed.

He looked at my battered state without a shred of pity. Instead, his eyes held the condescension of someone dispensing charity.

"Rough night, Iris?"

He stopped in front of me, pressing a white handkerchief over his nose.

"Don't blame me. I had to protect what little dignity Rosalie had left."

"She's so fragile. Going to the Order is a death sentence for her. I couldn't let her be disgraced on top of everything."

"You've always been strong. A few lashes won't kill you."

I slowly raised my head and fixed him with a dead stare.

"Lucian, you make me sick."

His expression faltered, then twisted into a cold smirk.

"Careful. I'm the one who got you out."

"I've already settled things with the Wardens. The matter is closed."

"Go clean yourself up and put on the gown."

"Today is our wedding day. Once you're mine, you'll have the entire Vampire Court behind you."

"Meanwhile, Rosalie will be at the Order with nothing, just waiting to die."

"So stop sulking and let it go."

I looked at his self-righteous face and began to laugh, a raw, broken sound dragged from deep in my chest.

Yes. It was over, all right.

Several hours later, I arrived at the governor's plaza.

Two wedding processions stood waiting.

To the left waited the Vampire Court's black procession, with black silk across the road and ghostly flames to light the way.

To the right stood the Hunters' Order's white carriage, drawn by four horses wreathed in holy light.

I wore the cheap, revealing white dress beneath a large white cloak that covered me from head to toe.

Rosalie emerged in her magnificent black gown, her face hidden beneath a thick black veil, supported by Mother's arm.

Lucian stood before the black convoy. When he saw the cloaked, white-veiled figure walking toward the white carriage, his eyes instantly reddened.

He believed the person in the white cloak, heading off to die, was Rosalie.

"Rosalie... I'm sorry..."

Lucian's voice cracked with anguish. He squeezed his eyes shut, and tears slid down his cheeks.

"Go. If there's a next life, I swear I'll protect you."

He performed his tearful farewell to my carriage.

Then he turned and walked toward the figure in the black gown waiting by the dark convoy.

The grief on Lucian's face vanished in an instant, replaced by a cold, almost repulsed expression.

"Enough dawdling."

He snapped at Rosalie.

"Get in. Don't make us late for the ceremony. If saving your life didn't require it, I would never marry a vicious woman like you."

Beneath the veil, Rosalie stiffened. But she didn't dare say a word and meekly climbed into the black carriage.

I stood by the white carriage, watching through a gap in my cloak, and a cruel smile curled at the corner of my mouth.

I climbed into the Hunters' Order's carriage without looking back.

The carriage door slammed shut, sealing away the outside world.

Nathaniel's envoy produced a crystal-clear mirror and presented it to me with a respectful bow.

"My lady, the Lord Commander prepared this Silver Mirror for you. It will show you everything happening at the Vampire Court."

I took the mirror and lightly touched the surface with my fingertip.

The image flared to life, revealing the bridal chamber inside the Vampire Court's citadel.

I leaned against the cold wall of the carriage, my eyes fixed on the mirror.

Lucian, when you lift that veil, I want to see the exact moment your world falls apart.

"Move out."

The horses let out a piercing whinny and launched the carriage into the sky.