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“The house won’t be the same without you here,” Else said and looked like she was about to cry as well.

Willow put her hand on my shoulder. “It’s going to be okay. I believe that.”

I nodded, even though I didn’t exactly share her optimism, and signed my name. It didn’t matter that I wanted Draven…god, craved him. Or that there was a deep, hidden part of me, a part I’d been afraid to look at too closely that wanted to belong to him, that exploded back to life when he was near—when I’d felt numb for so long. Because a relationship built on a foundation of hate, even if it had been misplaced, couldn’t possibly work.

None of that mattered, though, because Draven was going to claim me as his mate, and I wasn’t going to fight that. There was no point, no other option. But he wouldn’t claim my heart. I would never give that to anyone ever again. It was locked up tight, and as long as I kept it that way, I’d be okay when it all went to hell.

Because it would.

How could it not?

CHAPTER 22

Iris

Someone knocked on my door early the next morning, and before I could ask who it was, Willow walked in.

Nia immediately jumped down to greet her, and I sat up, resting against the headboard. I’d barely slept all night. I didn’t know what to expect today, and I wasn’t ashamed to admit, I was scared out of my mind.

“What’s that?” I said, eyeing the garment bag my sister was carrying.

Her expression grew cautious. “A dress.”

“Why do you have a dress with you?” She unzipped it and I saw a flash of white. “No. No freaking way.”

Willow winced. “I know, I know. But Rowena’s here…the whole coven is, actually.”

“What? Why?” I scrambled out of bed and ran to the window. There were cars everywhere, and several people were gathered in the backyard, weaving what could only be a blessing arch.

“Else or Mom must have called them last night and told them what happened. They arrived in force this morning.”

“I really don’t need this shit today.” I paced away from the window.

Willow’s expression softened. “They want to show Draven and his pack how important you are to us, and in Rowena’s words, ‘let him know that if he hurts you, we will cut him down until there is nothing left.’ She knows the sacrifice you’re making for the coven, and she wants you to know she appreciates it.”

Rowena was the head of our coven and Mom’s second cousin. She was tough and smart and kind. She also didn’t take shit from anyone.

I moved back to the window. One of my aunts was walking across the yard with a basket of flowers. Goddammit. We usually had a ceremony when a witch married or mated. Most wore a white dress and a floral wreath in their hair for the occasion. Willow never got to have one herself, and Mom and Else had been more than a little put out by it. The ceremony celebrated a female witch’s womanhood and was performed to enhance her fertility and to call on the mother to ask for her blessings upon the union.

“This isn’t a love match,” I said. “Doing this is ridiculous. I don’t want it. Plus, I have my task to complete. Amy and Marina are still missing, I don’t have the time.”

Willow chewed on her lip. “Rowena has her mind made up. They can’t help you get out of this thing with Draven, not without bloodshed, and not without pissing off the council in a big way. This is their way of helping. Making sure the union has the mother’s blessings is all they can do for you now. They want you to be safe and happy, and this is their way of stacking the odds in your favor.”

“Fuck.” I started pacing again. “I can’t believe this is happening.”

Willow pulled the garment bag away from the dress, and I turned to look at it. It was long, made of soft, flowy muslin and lace. It looked vintage. “Was this Gran’s?”

“Yep,” Willow said, running her hand down the soft-looking fabric.

“I can’t wear that. It should be saved for Mags or…” I was about to say Rose. But Rose wouldn’t ever get to wear a dress like this. I swallowed back my emotions. I refused to cry.

“Just because you wear it doesn’t mean someone else can’t as well.” Willow turned to me. “Look, I know this seems…insane. I know it’s daunting and not what you wanted for yourself, especially after what happened with Brody.”

I flinched. Just hearing his name sent tremors of revulsion through my body. “No, it isn’t. But you don’t have to worry, I’ll suck it up. I’ll do what I need to for the coven.”

Willow’s lips curled up gently. “You’re attracted to Draven, though, yes?”

My face heated. I was no prude. Willow and I talked about most things, but for some reason, when it came to Draven, I struggled to find the words. “Yes, but that’s fate’s doing. I would never have chosen this. It doesn’t matter how hot the guy is.”