32. Scarlett

CHAPTER 32

SCARLETT

My brows furrow as I'm brought to a more intimate setting than I had been expecting. Open windows allow in a soft breeze. Sheer drapes surround a central area, billowing on the gentle wind while chairs surround it on all side.

I'm expecting for the soft barrier to hold a platform inside, given it's big enough for two people.

Instead, there's a bed.

A knot forms in my stomach as I scan the Elite families who have already taken their seats.

Each row has another sheer drape. It might obscure their view, but they can clearly still see everything.

I have a sinking realization by what was intended with an "old fashion" wedding ceremony.

"No," I try to say as I pull back against the two manservants escorting me in.

The Duchess pinches the back of my arm so hard that tears sting my eyes. I can't cry out, ask for help, or even make a sound, thanks to the magic vial that had been used on me.

Duchess Rinhold leans into my ear and snarls a threat that makes me go still. "Your mother has all the anti-aging vials she needs. You didn't think I wouldn't find out, would you? Edward was trying to woo you, girl. Well, no need for that anymore. But we will maintain relations with your family, mostly because they are useful to us. However, if you choose to make a scene, we'll have no need for them. So behave, or your mother will die, and you can live with that for the rest of your unfortunately long life."

She releases me and I stare at the bed in the middle of the room.

Edward is standing on the other side. He's wearing a handsome marriage suit and his hands are clasped in front of him as he waits for them to bring me.

Even if I was willing to cooperate, I'm given little opportunity. My toes barely touch the ground as I'm lifted by my elbows and escorted through the rows.

Desperation clenches my stomach in an iron grip as I scan the row of faces for anyone familiar. I spot a few I had met at the fête, but no one who I could call a friend.

I don't know why my spirits lift with hope when I locate my brother. My father isn't here, nor is my mother. I'm not sure if that upsets me or if I'm glad they didn't get an invitation. It would have been more powerful to lord my mother over me if that was Duchess's Rinhold's threat, but I realize why when my brother's gaze meets mine.

They wouldn't sit by and allow this.

My brother, though. He seems to have been preparing me for this day his whole life.

He doesn't have to wear a mask anymore. I can see exactly who and what he is and he's not hiding it. There's cold calculation in his eyes and the joyless smirk playing on his lips demonstrates his amusement by this situation.

I don't deserve this.

"Sabre. Cage. Help Cain. Bring him to me. Stop this, please!"

I would have preferred to say my prayer aloud, but a mental one will have to do.

Still, when I'm brought to the central circle of sheer drapes, servants tug on ropes to open them, revealing Edward to me.

On the other side of a large bed that has no pillows or sheets.

I scan the area for a priest or some sort of authority figure who would dare to sanction this sort of "ceremony."

There's no one. Edward himself chooses to address the room, instead, as if he's the sole figure of authority required.

"Thank you, everyone, for coming here on such short notice," he says as he lifts his voice and takes his time acknowledging various families. His hands are still clasped in a way that no one can see his palm and he keeps them that way as he speaks.

The coward couldn't even cut his hand to make it look real like they did to me.

His tongue flicks out to wet his lips before he continues. "Lady Scarlett and I are as concerned as all of you are by recent events. Our Lord Cain has gone missing and there have been monster violations through various territories, including areas in the Elite City.

I frown as I wonder what he could be talking about. While I have been indisposed, I know of no such violations.

Cain's absence, though, can be blamed on me.

"Because of this," Edward continues, turning his blue eyes on me, "we have chosen the old way to conclude our courtship. The contract was written in Cain's blood, after all. We don't know what would happen to the future mother of my child, the Rinhold heir, should anything befall our great King."

My stomach turns sour at his words.

I will never carry a child with your blood, I vow.

But I've come to the sickening realization of what kind of marriage ceremony this is. Edward lowers his chin with finality. "You all bear witness to our union. May it be blessed by Cain."

My laugher at that statement would have echoed through the quiet of the room, had I not been spelled into silence.

Every Elite member holds their breath as the ties of my corset are undone. I know why it was a simple one now. I wasn't meant to wear it for very long. I'm too numb to fight, not when I know that Duchess Rinhold will use my mother against me if I don't comply.

But I can't allow this to happen, either. Can I?

Fuck. What do I do?

The servant tugs the ropes again until the drapes close around us, leaving only Edward and I in the circle of sheer fabric.

He peels off his jacket as he watches me. "Come, my bride," he says as he indicates the bed.

A shiver of defiance runs up my spine. Edward seems to have prepared for this sort of reaction, because he doesn't seem perturbed. Instead, he pulls his shirt over his head, mussing up his hair before he works on the band of his pants.

His body his beautiful, but his soul is filthy, ugly, and wicked. His skin seems broken as if he's made of shards of glass. I can see through a disguise now that I hadn't even realized had been there.

Earl Rinhold's mask was the most perfect mask of all. I might never have seen through it had I not met all three of my monster mates.

But I can see who he is now. He doesn't care about me. The truth in his eyes says horrible things. They roll through my mind even though I don't want to know. I don't want to hear what this man wants to do to me.

Submit to me.

Break for me.

Bleed for me… my little plaything.

He reaches me on the side of the bed and he rests his fingers on my hips. I try not to flinch, but my body reacts to him with revulsion.

"I know you're nervous," he says in a hushed whisper, as if we're the only two people in the world. But the room is like an echo chamber. I know that everyone in the room can hear him. That's all part of his mask.

All part of the role he plays.

I shake my head and try to back away, but he has his proverbial claws in me now. He digs his fingers into my hips and holds me in place.

"I'm sorry your mother couldn't be here," he continues, making me freeze. There's a wicked gleam in his eyes that shows me the meaning he intends with those words. "There was an incident that required both the Duke and Duchess Nightingale to attend. When they return, I will personally make sure they're both invited for a visit, and that they are safe ."

He says the last word with enough emphasis for me to understand the threat.

If I don't comply, they'll both be killed.

And I trust the Rinholds to be able to do it. It doesn't matter if I'm supposed to be Cain's mate or if I've found two other dream monsters to take my side.

They're trapped underneath a layer of glass in another realm, and I don't know when or if they'll ever be able to find their way out.

And even if they do… by then, my family will be dead.

I have to play along. I don't have a choice, so I tremble as I allow Edward to guide me onto the bed.

There's a sigh from the spectators as Edward reclines me onto my back, as if this is some romantic gesture as he settles himself at my side. I press my legs together and try to cover myself with my arms.

I stare at what should be the ceiling, but it's a mirror instead. The reflection seems all wrong. The bed underneath me is black, not white.

And there are three distinct shadows lurking underneath the glass.

"I wanted you to be able to see our union for yourself," Edward explains as he drags my hair away from my neck, the presses his lips to my pulse.

My wide eyes stare back at me, full of fury and rage. Maybe I'm just seeing what I want to see. My mates aren't coming to save me, or else they would have appeared by now.

Turning my head away from Edward so I don't try to do something violent, like bite him until he bleeds, I find my brother in the crowd. We can easily see each other through the sheer drapes that offer no privacy at all.

He grins at me, the mouths the words I can already see behind his eyes.

"Spread your legs, whore."

My jaw aches from how hard I'm clenching it. Edward begins to kiss my neck, harder this time, as he runs his hand down to my elbow. He continues, then gathers my wrists in his grip and gently pulls my arms over my head.

"Don't look at them, look at us," he instructs, as if that's comforting advice.

I do it, only so I don't have to look at my brother while this happens.

This… is happening, though.

It can't happen. Can it?

Those three shadows are still there, waiting for me to speak them into existence.

My breath comes in short pants as Edward pushes his other hand between my thighs, then forces them open.

No.

His weight presses on my thigh, pinning it down as he settles between my legs.

I stare at the mirrored ceiling and will it to shatter. I will it to break into a thousand pieces and to fall onto us, to make Edward bleed for this.

To my shock, a fracture appears straight down the center, splitting the reflection of my face in two as red eyes peer behind it, staring back at me.

I'm not imagining them, I realize. They can use the mirror.

Yes, that makes sense. Broken mirrors were how I moved around in that alternate plane while my body had been trapped in sleep. Now I'm grateful for that practice, because I can use it to guide my beasts to do the same.

Mirrors are what Cain's eyes look like in the dream world.

As do mine.

I'm like him. Or maybe, I can channel his gifts, if I try hard enough.

Concentrating, I try to ignore as Edward palms my breast and presses his lips on my skin. His length nudges at my entrance and I know he can't finish this. He can't unite our bodies when it would destroy my soul in the process.

I'd rather die.

Drawing in a lungful of air, I try to scream. Edward chuckles against my mouth and whispers his cruel words, this time ones no one can hear.

"Don't worry, Scarlett. There will be plenty of nights for you to scream for me."

I might not have made a sound in the real world, but my scream echoes through the dream plane. The mirror above us cracks and breaks, making Edward flinch to look up at it.

But he's too late.

Because three beasts come pouring out of it.

A manic grin stretches across my face as everything goes dark.

My nightmares are here.