The kiss is mine to give, and I’m not handing it over so easily.
My grandmother nods, understanding I might not want to kiss some guy I met a few days ago—much less do anything else with him.
One side of Eryx’s mouth curls as if he’s amused that I’m skipping the kiss, like he knows something I don’t.
As if there could be anything more surprising than waking up to discover this man has announced his plan to marry me.
“I present the King and Queen of Nightmares,” Nana says.
As soon as she announces us, pressure builds in my chest and magic—pure, white-hot magic—pushes through me and fills the house. This time, the magic has nothing to do with Eryx. This is my family’s power strengthening, fighting back against the curse or whatever it is—the thing that forces all of us to marry.
And so I’m married.
Yay, me.
The next few minutes are a whirlwind. It feels like I’m a spectator outside of myself. My hands are numb. My body can’t accept the fact that I’ve just said,I do, to someone I barely know.
Three days ago my ball was canceled, and now I’m married to a stranger.
This feels so very, very wrong.
But when I look at Eryx, who’s standing across the room talking to my dad—his gaze darts to meet mine, and something inside my chest shifts, as if a part of me knows him.
Even though he’s still a stranger.
But what I’ve done, I’ve done for my family, for my sisters, so that our legacy can continue in my town of Castleview.
Even Ovie’s here, and she hugs me, whispering, “He’s very handsome.”
My gaze flicks to Eryx again. Have I just made the biggest mistake of my life?
One year. That’s all I have to do—give it one year and see how it works out, see if I can call the Nightmare District my home.
And what about the living nightmare I just married? How will I survive this?
“We’ll visit you,” Emory says as I join her and Dallas in a group. “As soon as you want us to.”
“You didn’t have to do this,” Dallas whispers. “We could have found another way.”
“No, we couldn’t have,” I murmur. “You saw what happened today. There wasn’t any time left. I’d put this off longer than I should have.”
Her gaze drops to her feet because she knows I’m right.
After a whirlwind of congratulations, Mama hands me a bag. “We packed some of your things.” She gives me a small bead-covered compact. “Take this with you.”
I open it and see my own reflection for just a moment. Then my face dissolves and my family’s friend Elmore appears. Hisface is only lightly lined with age, and his shock of white hair is coifed into a perfect pompadour.
“Elmore.” I trace my finger over his silhouette. “You’re coming with me?”
“Of course I am. Who’s going to keep your family updated on all the gossip—what the Nightmare King’s bedroom looks like, how he styles his hair?”
I chuckle. “Don’t worry. If you have to rescue me from his manor, I’m sure you can pull me through a mirror.”
Elmore tsks. “You know that’s never been done.”
“There’s a first time for everything.” I close the compact, pressing it to my heart. “Thanks, Mama.”
She hugs me tightly. “I’m sorry this happened so suddenly. I wish you’d had more time.”
