Thalia took a deep breath, willing herself to stand tall. She would not give Harrison the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
Her future husband was waiting at the other end of the gathering. He was beaming at her, like a man who was about to get everything he had ever wanted. The priest stood next to him,and Thalia was unable to tell if it was the same priest at the last ceremony. She supposed it did not matter.
She kept her gaze ahead as she and Archibald walked through the path that the crowd had created. She did not think she would be able to hold herself together anymore if she caught sight of her family or friends.
She took her place next to Harrison, and she refused to look at him, keeping her eyes on the priest instead.
The priest clasped his hands before him and began to speak. “We are gathered here today…”
Thalia stopped listening to the speech. She did not think she could bear it.
Harrison leaned in close to her, whispering in her ear, “Ye look beautiful, wife.”
The words sent a shiver down her spine, but she didn’t answer him.
He clicked his tongue, seemingly disappointed that she was ignoring him. “I knew ye’d come around eventually,” he continued. “I just needed to break ye down. Lucky for ye, I’m a patient man.”
Thalia ground her teeth. “I daenae think threatenin’ me home and me people count as breakin’ me. Ye havenae truly broken me, and ye never will.”
He growled, grabbing her arm and yanking her around until she faced him. The priest paused his speech, and gasps rose in the air.
“If ye think I’m goin’ to let ye speak to me like that durin’ our wedding, ye are sorely mistaken,” Harrison hissed. “In fact, I think tonight I might have to just teach ye a lesson in?—”
Before he could finish, a thunderclap sounded despite the clear blue sky. It grew louder and louder as it approached, and everyone turned in surprise as the gates flew open. Men and horses flooded the courtyard, and Thalia recognized the three men at the front immediately.
The first man was Finlay, sitting atop his great black steed. He was flanked by Caden and his man-at-arms, Peter. Thalia’s heart soared at the sight, her chest feeling so full it was near bursting.
“Finlay!” she cried with unbridled joy.
Harrison unsheathed his sword, and his guards did the same.
“I’ve come for me betrothed,” Finlay announced as he dismounted his horse. Caden and the others followed suit.
“She’s nae yers,” Harrison barked. “She’s mine! She has always been mine!”
“Nay!” Thalia cried, her voice ringing steadily through the air. “I will never be yers!” She turned back to Finlay, her voice thick with emotion as she said, “I cannae believe ye came for me.”
“I received an invitation.” Finlay gave a cheeky grin. “And I couldnae just stand by and watch someone else marry ye.”
Harrison stepped in front of Thalia, holding his sword high. “I daenae remember sending ye an invitation.”
“That’s because ye didnae. I did,” Archibald announced. He grinned at Thalia. “I wouldnae let me niece be miserable just to avoid a war. I just needed to make this one come to his senses.” He looked pointedly at Finlay as he said the last part.
Harrison looked between Archibald and Finlay, trying to decide who he hated more at that moment. “If it’s a war ye want, it’s a war ye shall get.”
He moved quickly, swinging his sword down and bringing the point across Archibald’s chest. His shirt and vest fell open, and a crimson gash tore open his torso.
Thalia shrieked, and the other guests began screaming as the chaos unfolded around them. The men leapt into action, Harrison and his guards on one end, with Finlay, Caden, and their men on the other.
The crowd dispersed quickly as the two sides collided in a clang of swords.
CHAPTER 31
Thalia,Ava, and Emma ran to their uncle’s side.
Ava got there first. She knelt and lifted Archibald’s head gently before resting it in her lap. Thalia tore a strip from her skirt to press firmly against the wound. Emma sat beside them, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Archibald’s skin shone with sweat, and his breath was coming fast. Thalia blinked back tears as she tried to focus on the matter at hand. The gash did not look too deep, but there was so much blood that she couldn’t be sure. Her uncle’s face was growing paler by the second.
