The Reborn Duke's Hated Bride

standing at the altar

the warmth leave his body. I had seen the light fade f

en my execution, he was standing there in a black silk suit, ali

les around my wrists clanked softly, the sound

Blackthorn said, his voice carrying the same honeyed cruelty I

here behind me, I heard the murmur of the gathered nobles, th

loved. The man I had been promised to since birt

ng against the marble floor. Each step brought him closer,

d traced the iron collar around my neck, a mockery of the wedding choker he

to cower. "I paid for my cr

. And beneath it, something darker. S

y I could hear, "that you will die today. But not before you watch everythi

anted to wrap my hands around his throat a

d, I s

ng since the day I drove that knife into your heart. You should know that k

ce wen

athedral, a voice I had never he

ease

head t

reath s

armed guards in the colors of a kingdom that had no business bein

ian Rave

ebel

to at birth, then stol

ike I was the only thing i

al erupted

ay for the Duke's guards. Alaric's hand went to the sword at his hip, but he did not draw it. Even he, the most powerful man in the north

like a blade through flesh, earning his title through slaughter and strategy. It was said he had never lost a battle. It was said he had never smiled. It was said that the wom

ed with a cold, sinkin

rs, his black hair streaked with premature silver at the temples. His face was all sharp angles and hard planes, the kind of face sculptors carved and painters immortalized.

is is a lawful execution. The King himself

ook at him. His gaze

ice low and rough, like stones grinding t

t me like a

before I could walk, before I could talk, before I could choose. But that contract had been broken when Alaric's father conquered my homeland and claimed me as

t Dorian had

ght he had

been

at. "She killed my brother. She tried to

a finality that made the stones themselves seem to

owd. When he reached me, he did not speak. He simply looked at me, those whiskey eyes tracing ev

le for a man of his reputation, he reached out a

e said softly, his voice meant o

es burned. I did not know

saving," I mana

er. "I know," he murmured. "But you are going to let me save you anyway. Because we ha

to face the crowd, his hand closing around

r of the King, who has been informed of certain truths regarding this woman's so called crimes. Duke Bla

hought he would fight. I almost wanted him to. The thought of bloodshed, of violenc

ding us, at the sheer number of swords point

t me. "You will pay for what yo

ince I had been dragged into this cathed

lt h

ting on it

rds closing ranks around us like a shield. We walked through the cathed

ould

ave seen Alaric pull a smal

een him press

n his eyes turn

h absolute certainty, that