When he finally fell asleep beside her, his arm draped over her waist, Sin lay there, staring at the ceiling. Her heart was heavy, the fear gnawing at her insides until she couldn’t take it anymore.
She slipped out of his bed, her feet barely making a sound as she crept out into the darkened hallway. Her heart hammered in her chest, and her bare feet padded against the stone floors. The pull of him was unbearable. Her feet ached to turn back, to be near him again. But the gnawing fear in her chest was louder—louder than the bond, louder than the whispers of magic, louder than hope.
The night air was sharp as she found Magnolia’s horse tied to a tree at the edge of the forest. Her hands trembled as she worked to untie it, her fingers fumbling with the knots while her eyes darted around, constantly glancing over her shoulder, fearing pursuit. She quickly untied it, mounting the saddle with trembling hands. Each breath was ragged as she urged the horse forward, its hooves pounding against the forest floor. The weight of what had happened bore down on her, threatening to crush her. She needed Magnolia—needed a permanent glamour so Max would never know how ugly she truly was.
The fae coveted pretty things. And she didn’t think being his mate would be enough with the amount of scars all over her body, especially the massive one going down the side of her face.
Things had changed. This was no longer a night of freedom in exchange for her life. She had a mate. He was a prince. A future now beckoned her.
As Magnolia’s cottage came into view, relief—an illusion. The forest was eerily quiet—too quiet. Each hoofbeat was too loud. The echoes practically bounced off the stillness. A chill ran across her skin.
Shadows shifted at the edge of her sight. Her instincts screamed—danger was close. Her breaths turned shallow. Every creak of the saddle made her flinch.
Suddenly—a rough and brutal hand yanked her from the saddle.
The ground rushed up to meet her as her father’s iron grip dug into her arm, his fae strength unstoppable. The impact knocked the breath from her lungs, her vision blurring as the world spun chaotically. Pain shot through her body, her heart pounding in her ears as panic seized her.
Her stepsisters stood over her, flanking him, their faces twisted in malicious grins. From Sin’s perspective on the ground, they appeared towering and menacing, their shadows cast long in the dim light, making them seem larger and more imposing.
Behind them, Vivienne stepped forward, her steps slow and deliberate, triggering a memory Sin had long forgotten. Vivienne’s eyes narrowed, her gaze cutting through the darkness with venomous intent. “I see someone had a good time tonight,” she hissed. “And I see you paid Magnolia a visit. Quite the glamour, isn’t it?”
Sin’s heart pounded. Aside from her appearance, how did they know it was Magnolia? Did they know each other? Was this a trick?
Vivienne’s eyes locked on the glass stilettos on her feet. Her face darkened, rage twisting her features. “These are mine!” she spat, yanking them off Sin’s feet with brutal force. “You think you can deceive royalty?”
Sin tried to protest, but her throat closed up, her voice barely escaping in a strangled whisper. She struggled to find her words, but the hatred in Vivienne’s glare silenced her completely, her helplessness settling like a weight on her chest. Before she could say anything, her father appeared, his face twisted with disgust. He shoved her back down, his boot pressing into her chest.
“You disgust me,” he growled, his voice echoing through the dark, empty surroundings, each hateful word bouncing off the cold stone walls. A shadow fell over Sin as he loomed above her,his presence growing larger, more menacing. “I should have let you die with your mother.”
Rage flared within her, hot and uncontrollable. Beneath her skin, her magic roared to life—wild and untamed. But she pushed it down, terrified of what would happen if she let it loose. Sin respected none of these people, but her father least of all. He disgusted her, and the feeling was mutual.
Her father dragged her back to the manor, her feet scraping against the rough ground, each step jarring her with pain. Her skin tore with every stumble, scrapes on her legs burning. The agony made her want to scream, but she bit down on her lip, tasting blood—she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her break.
Her arms ached from his iron grip, and she could feel her skin tearing where his fingers dug in. Her feet skidded on the dirt, her legs buckling as she tried to keep up. He finally threw her down into the cold, dark cellar. The stone floor slammed into her side, pain flaring as cold seeped into her bones. Vivienne’s mocking voice drifted down, barely registering through the haze of agony.
The door slammed shut, sealing her in darkness with Vivienne and her father.
Sin lay there, body trembling, the raw power of her magic thrumming beneath her skin like a caged beast, threatening to burst. The nightmare wasn’t over—it had only just begun.
Sin
The cellar was damp, musty, and cold—a place where hope died at the door.
The walls closed in, crushing what remained of Sin’s rebellious spirit. Her trembling fingers wrapped around the cold stones of the floor, wishing she could sink wholly into it.
Vivienne loomed at the hearth, a wicked gleam in her eyes as she cradled the crystal stilettos in her hands. The magic within the shoes seemed almost sentient, swirling in muted fury, almost as if reacting to Vivienne’s presence.
“You better not have ruined the enchantment I placed on them,” Vivienne said, her voice dripping with menace.
She slipped her feet into the shoes, and the moment her skin touched the glass, the magic retaliated. Her scream ripped through the cellar, a high, piercing sound of agony.
Sin’s eyes widened, fear paralyzing her as she watched steam rise from the soles, blood dripping over the sides.
Her father stepped out of the shadows, his face twisted with anger. His hand lashed out, striking Sin across the face with enough force to send her head snapping back. “What did you do?” he barked, the fury in his voice echoing off the stone walls.
Sin swallowed hard, tears brimming in her eyes from the impact. She said nothing, her lips trembling, and braced herself as Vivienne’s enraged gaze fell upon her.
Blood seeped from Vivienne’s ruined feet, and her rage grew into something monstrous, twisted. She turned toward the hearth, grabbing a pot filled with a oil that bubbled ominously, its fumes curling into the air like living serpents. An enchantment. Vivienne had placed an enchantment into the oil before Sin even arrived.
