4. Chapter Four #3
We walk into the church and I can breathe when the warm air surrounds me. I give my shawl to a woman waiting beside the door who then hands me my bouquet.
I can hear the music swell and the doors to the inner part of the church open. My father was right. At least a hundred guests, taking up every pew.
Nikolai waits for me at the end of the aisle. Beside him is a priest and on Nikolai’s other side is a man, around the same age as he is. Not as handsome as Nikolai but decent enough.
My father and I take a step down the aisle and the hundreds of guests all stand up, watching me. So this is what it feels like to take center stage. All for the wrong reasons. I didn’t earn this. I was forced into this by my birth. An arranged marriage because of who my father is.
I grit my teeth and keep walking. When I make it to the end of the aisle, I notice my mother and sisters.
Mother is looking at me critically, probably thinking how my dress is slightly wrinkled.
Adriana has her arms crossed and is glaring at Nikolai.
Elena just looks… sad. That makes me upset most of all.
When I look to my right, I see the people in Nikolai’s section.
A woman sits in the front pew. A young woman, probably in her twenties or thirties.
She has her chin raised and is looking at me with a critical eye.
Who is this woman? Blonde hair. Pretty skin.
An elegant green dress. Is she Nikolai’s sister? Or cousin?
Nikolai didn’t tell me if he has any family but I never thought to ask. I thought it was better to not engage with Nikolai over the month and instead, just focus on dancing. Now I’m regretting not asking him more questions when I had the chance.
Because now we’ll be married and I’ll know nothing about my husband.
My father grips my hand and places it in Nikolai’s. I walk up the dais steps and take my place before the priest, Nikolai, and the entire room full of guests.
Nikolai rubs his finger over my engagement ring.
The priest begins the ceremony, talking about love and devotion and faith. About obeying one’s husband. I notice that there’s nothing in the vows that says Nikolai has to obey me.
“Do you, Nikolai Smirnoff, take this woman, Lana Karetov, to be your lawfully wedded wife?”
“I do,” Nikolai announces in his deep voice that sends a shiver down my spine.
I can feel the priest turn to me but I keep my eyes on Nikolai. “And do you, Lana Karetov, take this man, Nikolai Smirnoff, to be your lawfully wedded husband?”
This is it. The moment my entire life changes. Nikolai will either break me down or raise me up. This is my chance to get the experience I’ve been denied to become a better dancer.
But that means marrying a man who has probably committed murder. I know in my gut he played a part in Claudia’s death and he was behind the car accident that got Ivan killed.
I still don’t know the full depths of this man but I’m going to have to find out… once we’re married.
With no other choice, I open my mouth. “I do.”
The tension in the room decreases a little. No need for a war. This marriage – this peace deal – is happening.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss.”
Nikolai grips my face between his strong hands and places a tender, soft kiss on my lips. My very first one. I can’t help but gasp a little and Nikolai smirks at my reaction. Instantly, I close off my expression, becoming the ice princess everyone knows me to be.
Nikolai takes my arm and walks me out of the church. We stand by the side as our guests come out to wish us congratulations.
My father and mother are first. She’s walking with a cane now but her leg is getting better by the day.
Father shakes Nikolai’s hand. “You wanted her. I gave her to you. Now you have to honor me.”
“Of course, Gregory. I never planned on fucking you over.” Nikolai’s casual cuss word shocks me. It doesn’t seem appropriate for our wedding day.
“Just stealing my daughter.”
“Enough,” Mother says. “We still have the reception to make it through. Be nice.” She nudges my father along. Elena and Adriana approach.
In a shocking display of emotion, Elena throws her arms around me and hugs me close. “Stay safe.” She lets me go and follows after our parents.
“You better not hurt my sister,” Adriana warns. Nikolai gets a chuckle out of her sass as she walks away.
“Your youngest sister must be a handful.”
“She is. I’m glad you find her amusing.”
“You don’t?”
I only shake my head. Adriana is always humiliating me in some way with her attitude.
A man approaches us next. The one who stood by Nikolai’s side at the altar. “Nikolai.”
“Lev.”
They shake hands.
“Congratulations,” Lev says even though his words and face are at odds with each other. He looks me up and down like I’m nothing more than a bug before walking away.
“Who is he?” I ask.
“My right hand. Lev. He has been my side for most of my career.”
“I’m not sure he liked me.”
“Lev doesn’t like most people. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
We shake the hands of our other guests before the blonde woman appears. She saunters right over with a smile that I don’t like. It’s almost… wicked.
“Svetlana,” Nikolai says, giving her a nod.
“Nik. I’m glad you invited me to the wedding.
It’s an honor. Especially after how things ended with us.
” She turns her green eyes onto me. Her look is more like a fairy than a human.
Fairies are beautiful but they also have a coldness to them.
“Lana Karetov. Nik’s new wife. Nice to meet you.
” She pulls me into a hug before I can react.
“He likes to fuck women and leave them bloody,” she says into my ear.
I jerk back. “Excuse me?”
Svetlana only laughs. “That’s some advice I can give you for your wedding night. I was once married but my husband died. Have a nice time, you two.” She saunters away, wagging her hips back and forth.
When I glance at Nikolai, I find him already turning to our next guest. Not watching Svetlana, I notice.
“Who is she?” I ask when our next guest walks away.
“Who?”
“Svetlana? Is she your sister?”
Nikolai looks at me with a frown. “I don’t have a sister. Svetlana is an old friend. That’s all.” He nods at the next guest – an old man who I don’t know. I don’t know most of the people here. Ironically, my only friends are the ballerinas I have spent hours with every day.
And none of them are even my friends.
Never have I felt more alone in my entire life. Svetlana’s warning about Nikolai rings in my ears.
Am I going to have to bleed to become the best dancer I want to be? Bleed in more ways than one.