“Not quite.”
Something cold slid through my gut.
“You’re overstepping,” I warned. “Interfering in a conflict between families isn’t your lane. Never has been.”
“That rule died a few hours ago, when you killed Vince Veylor.”
My fists clenched. “Still not your call.”
“With only two people left from two families, it is now.” He didn’t waver. “The council has already decided.”
The words dragged the room into one long, suffocating beat.
“You two will get married.”
Everything in my chest caved in at once.
“Fuck no!” I snapped, stepping forward before I realized I’d moved. “I’m not marrying a Veylor. I don’t care if she’s the last one standing. Her father murdered my mother in front of me. I put him in the ground for it. But she’s still breathing, and you think I’m gonna tie my name to hers?”
A flicker of pain tightened Serenity’s posture as she flinched. My glare pinned her anyway. I wanted her to hear everything I couldn’t stop feeling.
“Nothing on this earth will ever push me to claim a Veylor as mine. I want that entire line buried. Marriage isn’t happening. I want her head.”
The Hollister patriarch leaned forward.
“You don’t have a choice, boy.”
My fists clenched so tight my knuckles cracked. Marquette and Hollister weren’t giving me any room to breathe. I glanced over at Draven and Crowhurst, thinking maybe they’d help me face these two old men who clearly didn’t give a damn about what was best for the Korven’s. Honestly, I had no idea what Crowhurst was really thinking, but I hoped Draven—my best friend and ally in this council—would take my side. But I was shocked to see they were all in agreement this time.
“If you refuse, the council will wipe out everything tied to your bloodline until the Korven name is gone from this city. That’s the price for telling us no.”
My heart slammed against my ribs.
“You will marry in two days. Or you will die with the rest of your bloodline,” Hollister said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
That was it. They were forcing me to marry the daughter of the man who killed my mother, and I didn’t get a say in any of it.
Serenity was frozen beside me, her hands twisted together as the council stood.
I stepped toward her, letting every ounce of hate bleed through my stare until she dropped her gaze to the floor.
“Don’t think this saves you. This little circus doesn’t mean shit. I’ll still take your head. Every Veylor is going in the ground. Word of a Korven.”
I didn’t wait for an answer. Didn’t want one.
I pushed open the chamber doors and walked out, heat running up my spine. Anger burned in my chest as I drove to the Korven estate, the road dragging me deeper into this mess. Chaos was all around, a reminder of how that night ended and how I had to handle everything by myself now. There was no time to grieve. I had to step up and make sure the Korven namestill meant something, still had respect and fear, even when everything else was falling apart.
“Are you going to do it?” Krash, my right hand, asked. “You really marrying that Veylor girl?”
“They’re not giving me any choice,” I replied, my face twisted with anger. “And what pisses me off most is I can’t even touch her as long as she’s got my name. Nobody messes with a Korven, not even me. But there’s one motherfucking rule they can’t break, because it’s old Emberwick law:Any marriage that isn’t consummated within a year dissolves on its own. So I’ll let this year rot away. When the rule takes her off my name, I’ll finish what her father started and end this war the way it should have ended.”
Chapter Two
SERENITY VEYLOR
My legs could barely hold me as I walked to the altar alone, veil over my face, clutching my bouquet to keep from shaking. I might have thought my wedding dress was beautiful if it didn’t feel like I was walking to my own funeral. The man waiting at the end of the aisle was the same one who’d rather see me dead than put a ring on my finger.
Konflict was in front of the priest, looking all handsome in a black suit. Tall, big shoulders, thick arms, all of it impossible to miss. He looked good as hell, but I knew he was dangerous. Even with that pretty face, I knew what he was capable of. I saw it for myself just two days ago. Marrying him didn’t make me feel any better about it.
