4
UNHOLY MATRIMONY
IVY
I sink into the cushions and pull the toweling around my neck. My chin rests on the sofa as Mia styles my hair. She keeps asking how I want it and the simple answer is I don’t give a flying fuck.
It doesn’t matter what my hair looks like. Nothing matters anymore. I don’t want to get married, but it’s happening anyway. In an hour. The braid in my hair and the type of pins she adorns it with are the least of my goddamn problems.
“You should eat something,” she says, gently.
My eyes flick to the vast array of cakes and sandwiches laid out on one of the sideboards. Despite his insistence I eat with him, Henry felt obliged to ensure I didn’t faint during our wedding. I doubt passing out would save me from this marriage, but it would postpone it, and that feels like a win .
Mia clips another strand of hair into place before piling a plate high with food.
“Eat,” she says, shoving the plate under my nose. “I’ll be in trouble if you faint.”
I shake my head and turn away. “I don’t want to ruin my figure.”
The plate appears under my nose again and my mouth waters.
“Eat, or I’ll get Henry.”
I pull a face as a last protest and nibble on a pastry. Mia works faster and my hair’s fixed into place before she sprays enough hairspray to make me cough. She does a good job with my make-up and I’m relieved it isn’t caked on in the way Natasha planned, although the fake nails are somehow still attached.
“Can we get these off?” I ask, quietly.
Mia shakes her head. “They’re ridiculous, but there’s no time. We’ll sort it out tomorrow.” She claps her hands together and I stuff a small cake in my mouth as she points to the dresses hanging on the closet door. “Which one?”
Neither, if I had my choice.
I don’t want this wedding, but even if I did, I wouldn’t pick either dress. One is a ballgown with too many layers and the bodice has too many sequins on it. The other is clean and modern, but it’ll cling and the thigh slit is revealing. Dangerously revealing given the circumstances.
I ask her which one she likes best and she tells me Henry will prefer the ballgown. I immediately pick the other dress and she shakes her head, retrieving a neatly packaged box from the closet. She thrusts it at me and leaves the room, making it clear I’ve got minutes to get into whatever the hell’s inside.
My fingers pull the ribbons apart and I put the lingerie on, ignoring my stomach-curdling nausea. I can’t bear looking at myself in the mirror and I slip into the wedding dress, hoping I’ll feel better when I’m less exposed. I don’t.
Mia appears from nowhere and fixes my dress in place, whispering how I look beautiful as she dresses herself. I nod and stare out the window, wishing I was somewhere else as she places jewelry on me and helps me into my shoes. She rambles on about the ceremony while I count the seconds down, passing the last few moments before my life ends.
Ryan knocks and enters, beaming as his eyes wander over me.
“You look stunning.”
“Let’s get this over with,” I say, hissing at him.
His eyes flash with an emotion more potent than annoyance and I ignore the fuck out of it, storming past him. He grabs my arm and I roll my eyes as I turn to face him, questioning what the fuck he’s playing at.
“It’s your wedding day, Ivy. Try looking happy,” he says, pushing a small bouquet into my hands. “Henry thinks they’re your favorites.”
Peonies are. These are stunning. They’re pure white and perfectly round. I risk a glance at Ryan and he smiles, presumably interpreting my silence as confirmation they’ve pleased me.
“Give him what he wants, right?”
Ryan’s features darken and Mia gasps, adjusting her dress as she distracts herself.
“Ivy, he’s yours. You’re his. This ceremony doesn’t change that. Nothing will. Stop fighting this.”
He lets go and I move away, walking down the corridor. Ryan darts in front of me and I follow him. I’m slow. I don’t want to trip in this dress I don’t want to wear. I don’t want to be here and I don’t want to be heading towards this ceremony.
I’m walking to my own funeral, heading to my execution.
I wish the walk was longer and it’ll never be far enough.
Mia stops me before we step through the next set of doors, adjusting my dress and hair. Ryan waits patiently and I close my eyes, pretending for a moment this isn’t happening.
“You look beautiful,” he says, offering me his arm.
I’m not ready .
I’m not ready .
I’m not fucking ready .
I’m reaching for his arm and I’m still not ready. Ryan smiles and squeezes my hand, and I want to run. I could refuse. I could kick and scream and fight against this, but we’ll be back here again. Henry’s decided this will happen and he’ll find a way to get what he wants.
I’ve struck my deal. It keeps Izzy safe. It isn’t what I want, but it’s what she needs. I’ve made my bed and it’s time to lie in it. Until I can find a way out.
Ryan leads me into a small, beautiful room. Its stone arches are lit by candles and fairy lights, and it’s covered in peonies. It’s magical, intimate and perfect for a wedding. For any wedding other than mine. My pace slows and Ryan’s doesn’t, leaving me trailing behind him awkwardly.
“I’ll take it from here,” Henry says, walking towards me from the far side of the room. He covers the distance quickly, beaming as he stares down at me.
He’s almost beautiful. Tall, lean and powerful. The muscles underneath his immaculately tailored suit are strong and he’s fit. He’s elegant, streamlined and his dark blond hair is cut perfectly, styled to be as timeless as his presence. His sharp, bright blue eyes complete an appearance I’d find attractive in any man other than him .
“Your hand?”
I shake as I slip mine into his and his fingers close around mine. I’m trapped and there’s only this, only this way forward. Henry nods and pulls me toward him, staring at me as he leads me to the priest waiting for us. He doesn’t look like any I’ve known. He’s older but looks younger and it’s like he sees straight through me, instantly knowing all my deepest, darkest secrets.
“Are you ready?” he asks.
I draw a deep breath as Henry nods. His fingers tighten around mine and I wince as his grip hurts.
“You need to answer, Ivy,” the priest says.
My mouth forms a small but perfect circle as Henry’s eyes demand obedience. I shake a little as I look between him and the priest, uncertain and confused.
“She’s nervous,” Henry says, smoothly as he pulls me towards him. “Ivy, a nod will do.”
He doesn’t deserve it, and it’s more than I want to give. But there’s something in his expression that screams it’ll create a problem beyond my worst nightmare if I don’t. I bring my lips together, roll my teeth over the bottom one and nod.
“Good,” the priest continues. “It’s fine, Ivy. We’ll go slowly.”
I nod again and my heart shatters. This is too fast and Henry’s grip tightens again, reminding me not to fuck around.
“Let’s skip anything unnecessary,” Henry says. “We don’t need every prayer or blessing. Just the binding.”
The priest's eyes narrow and he glares at Henry, slowly turning his attention back to me. His head tilts and I dislike the way he’s staring at me. It’s unpleasant, unnerving. It’s like he wants to eat me for breakfast and he’s circling his prey.
“Is this what you want?” he asks .
No. It isn’t what I want.
“Yes.”
Henry smiles and pulls me against him, wrapping his arms around me. It’s more than I want and it’s far too personal. It’s the closest we’ve been, and I don’t like it. It’s firm and unrelenting, it’s uncomfortable and awkward. It’s the kind of hold you’ll do anything to escape from, except it isn’t.
I look away, dropping my head before I realize how we appear. Anyone watching would see this as a sign of intimacy, mistaking my hesitancy for a need for reassurance. They’d see my reluctance as nervousness, and Henry’s playing his role perfectly.
“Well then,” the priest says. “If she’ll move back, I’ll say some prayers and we’ll move on.”
Henry’s hands slip to my upper arms as he steps back. He’s keeping me in place, but it looks like he’s holding me up. It’s a masterpiece of manipulation and his performance is flawless, even when I jump as the priest starts chanting in a language I don’t understand.
“You’re doing fine,” Henry reassures me. “We talked about this, remember?”
We didn’t fucking talk about this and I’d like to know what the fuck is going on. For all I know, the priest could be chanting curses or I could be making another deal with the devil, besides the agreement I’m entering into semi-willingly.
I nod aimlessly and look at Ryan. He’s completely relaxed and whatever this is, he’s seen it before and nothing unusual is happening. The ceremony is going as planned and it doesn’t put me at ease.
“Take her hands.”
The priest’s voice cuts through my thoughts and draws me back to reality. I freeze as Henry’s hands slide down my arms and electric currents surge over my skin. He turns my arms over and my hands seem so small compared to his, barely half the size and yet they fit together. My palms face up as his covers them and this doesn’t feel bad. It feels okay and I don’t like it. I don’t trust it. I don’t trust him.
“Close your eyes,” Henry says, whispering.
I straighten my lips and shake my head.
“Ivy doesn’t have to,” the priest says and Henry stiffens.
“I want to see.”
Henry scowls at me as the priest smiles, nodding as he lifts his hands above ours. “You may see this,” he says. “It’s not as if you’ll experience it twice.”
The priest’s hands grab Henry’s forearms and I gasp as strands of bright white light pour out of them, wrapping around Henry’s arms and creeping towards his hands. Towards my hands. I want to pull back, but Henry’s grip tightens even though I’m too entranced to move, staring as the light dances and makes intricate patterns around his hands.
It wraps around my fingers and it’s warm, catching me by surprise. I jump and the priest laughs a little as the light moves faster, tying itself around our hands. The warmth spreads up my arm and my breathing quickens as it pushes into my chest. It’s surging forward and sweeping through me, catching me by surprise and knocking me off balance.
I sway and Henry pulls me back to the center, preventing me from falling. I’m dizzy and the lights in the room flicker as they move. They’re spinning around me and my eyes widen as I stare at Henry, fixating on him as if he’s the external point I’m pirouetting around.
My head feels light and I blink, trying to force my eyes to focus. The lights move faster, blurring as they spin past me and I groan, shaking my head .
“She’s powerful,” the priest says.
“What else did you expect?”
I toss my head again and the room spins faster. The lights blur and their patterns are beautiful, creating tails behind them that merge into each other. My head starts spinning and I mumble, stumbling towards Henry as I finally lose my balance and fall.