44
Bella
* * *
The day of the wedding finds me in a side room at St. Xavier’s. I’m wearing a white wedding dress with pink appliqué flowers and green vines decorating the skirt.
Out in the sanctuary, the organ starts playing.
“I think that’s our cue,” Elodie says. “I’ll go check.”
“I’m almost done,” Honey says, brushing the finishing touches onto my face. She did all our makeup.
“You look awesome,” Raine says.
“So do you.” Raine, in particular, looks great in the dark purple bridesmaid gown I chose. “Thanks for doing this. I know all this was last-minute.”
“Thank you for inviting us. I can’t believe you’re getting married the week after your house blew up,” Honey says.
“It’s fine. It was the New Rome house, not the one in Metropolis next to campus. That one just needs some remodeling.”
Honey shakes her head. “Girl, one day you’re going to tell me the whole story.”
“We need another sleepover,” Raine says. “I just need to get Ransom off my back.”
Ransom is her stepbrother. “Do you want me to poison him?”
“What?” Raine’s startled eyes meet mine in the mirror.
“It doesn’t have to be a deadly dose. Just incapacitate him a little. Make him sleep a lot.”
Raine just stares at me.
Honey sighs. “Bella, we talked about this. You can’t just go around poisoning people.”
“It’s just a little sleeping potion—” I protest.
“You could do that?” Raine interrupts.
“Don’t encourage her,” Honey says.
I nod. “Oh yes, I used all sorts of poisons on Kaiser, and it worked out fine.”
Honey gasps. “Fine? You said he found out and chased you through the house to punish you!”
“I know.” I waggle my brows at Raine, who looks more freaked out by the second. “It was great.”
“Thanks for the offer,” Raine says. “I’ll save it for plan B.”
“Anytime.” I grin at her in the mirror. “I’m here if you need me. Your friendly neighborhood venefica. We’re the Villaini, remember?”
“Right, I remember.” She grins back.“Do it for the plot.”
We both snicker, and then Raine heads out to wait with Elodie, leaving me alone with Honey.
“Thanks for doing this,” I say to Honey. I stroke the silver collar around my throat. “I know I haven’t always been a great friend.”
“You’re fine. I was just upset about Fraternitas banning me. They were always kinder to me than my own family, I just thought…”
