NE

in that steel-edged voice that our wedding

afterward? It wa

ng bodice. What had possessed me to choose something so ornate? So bridal? Th

iving away the bride. Just Drexon's large hand at the small of my back,

reaux matriarch spoke volumes; he only be

to hold from thi

file was carved marble-not a single glance my way,

marriages were s

finding your fiancé in b

oreaux to be your law

blow. My pulse roared in my ears,

side me, he'd have broken these vow

me radiated control, but the faint tighteni

'd become a chain around hi

ed to say. I'll be the streng

hroat pointedly. Reality

left my lips ste

Drexon, repeating

s firm, like a robot

fathom), I noted how the platinum band glinted under the chandeliers. Of course Dr

exchange of rings might as well have b

h Moreaux-a name that tasted like

pproached, her cane tap

inkled hand patting his arm. "Perhaps this one will prove herse

he old bat think what she wanted-my ne

ard the altar like jackals to carrion. I stepped into t

m Drexon sent electricity down

s, nephew?" I purred, savoring how

w sat comfortably above him. His nostrils flared,

Each word seemed to choke him. The sweetness of

edding cake. For a heartbeat, I almost pitied her-until I

hen added with poisonous sweetness, "

st life, Drexon had died mysterious

owed silently. I'l

hispers swirl

gau

er became

e so aw

er, my hand find

unced, voice dripping with honeyed malice. "Who knew hap

's, and oh, the murder i

properly. Do not abstain from any further indiscr

aught Drexon's expressi

roval. It was the first spark of something d