It was tight and dark, the warm glow from the fire below barely tickling our feet through the metal staircase. His hands wound around my hips, his lips hot on mine before I could even collect myself.
I pulled my face away, keeping my body aligned against his with blood pounding through my veins. “I’m mad at you.”
He grinned. It was such a wicked, wicked smile. “You seem very angry.” He throbbed against me, pressed hard into my stomach.
“Clement.” But it was a more of a whine, muffled by his mouth claiming mine again.
He kept his face close, barely allowing even air to pass between us. “I locked you in because I knew you’d try and escape.” He kissed me lightly. “And I barely found you in time before.”
“It doesn’t mean you get to lock me away like a toy.”
“Like a valuable treasure.”
I groaned, and he pressed into me again, smiling through the kiss. Really, I was just pathetic around him, and I was right about him being a distraction. I tried to pull my thoughts together. “But where have you been? I thought you were...”
“Busy.” He kissed me again. “I can’t tell you yet. Just...” His breath sighed out, warm and sorrowful against my lips. “Keep fighting, okay? You can end this.” He held me tighter, his heart thumping against mine.
“Tam?” Lilyanna’s voice carried through the walls.
I pushed Clement away, but he held firm. “I’ll stay with you tonight. Down here.” He turned the doorknob, the light from the lounge spilling onto his face, highlighting the color in his cheeks. “The wedding’s tomorrow, it’ll be our last chance.” He pressed a chaste kiss to my forehead before slipping a knife from his belt into my hand. I tucked it into my empty holster.
My stomach fell, the heat evaporating from my body. He knew what I needed to do and that if I succeeded, the last five years of his life would’ve been in vain. More than that, he’d be condemning his sister.
He squeezed my hand. “I love you,” he whispered, before striding across the room. He collected the tea tray and nodded to Lilyanna who smiled at him before raising her eyebrows at me, then left.
I slouched across the room and grimaced at her. “Yes?”
Lilyanna drummed her fingers on top of the black velvet box she held. Her collarbone poked through the loose sweater she’d thrown on, creamy skin stretched tight on her face.
“What’s that?” I asked.
She jumped, flinging her gaze to me as if she’d forgotten I was standing there. “The rest of the wedding outfit.” She tapped the box again. “The crown, I think.”
I pulled a face. The image of the blood-soaked crown still embedded in the woman on the dungeon wall raced into my mind. “Alright then, let's see what we can do.”
I shepherded her into the bedroom. The wedding dress had been tossed onto the bed, waves of golden silk and ribbons spilling everywhere. I gagged, and she laughed. “I think it’s beautiful.”
“Of course you do.” I reached for the box in her hands. “Give me that as well.”
The hinges sprung open, revealing a golden crown sunk into a silk pillow. At first glance, it looked wet. The metal was carved into coils of ivy, sharp petals extended toward the sky. Diamond crystals rested atop the leaves, sparkling like dew drops. Would they absorb her blood when he dug it into her skull, shining red like the beating heart of the ruby woman? I snapped the box shut again and tossed it onto the pillow.
I clicked my fingers, and she dropped the robe she wore and turned around with a heavy sigh.
“I have no idea what I'm doing, Lilyanna.” The dress seemed to have no end. It was all ribbons and silk in an amorphous mass.
“When have you ever?” She raised her arms, and I dropped the dress over her head, tugging and twisting it into position.
I stood back, hands on hips. “Is this the right way round?”
She shrugged.
Untangling the ends of the ribbons, I poked them through small sparkling eyelets and cinched her into an irregular lattice. It was probably fine. It wasn’t like there’d be wedding portraits made when either she or the prince ended up dead the following day. Hopefully the prince.
I collected some pins from the dresser and gathered in the loose fabric sagging around her hips and chest. I should’ve noticed she wasn’t eating well. Although perhaps a little guilt would do her some good, maybe even give her second thoughts about going through with this. My wrists throbbed in agreement.
“Ouch!” She flinched, batting my hand away.
“Sorry.” I inserted the pin again, narrowly avoiding her flesh a second time.
