Lace & Poison (Vow of Death #2)

Chapter 1

One

Sabina

Cold fingers brush against my back and I tense. Perla moves her hand, pulling the fabric tight around my waist. She holds it in place, then snaps her fingers at her assistant. The younger woman runs over, eager to help.

They work on something in the back of the dress, the two women hidden behind me as I stare at the mirror.

I don’t recognize myself anymore. What happened to Taylan? What happened to the woman who thought she could make things right?

She should have died in the fires that night. Lee—I clench my teeth. Not Lee—Ludis— should have killed me alongside them. Instead, he used me. A plan he’d had for who knew how long to regain his father’s favor.

He murdered my brothers.

He murdered his own sister.

He murdered the emperor.

Now he sits next to Caiden, plotting his own father’s murder.

And I play along, like the good puppet he made me into.

For a few days, I paced my room, telling myself I could get out of this. That I wouldn’t have to marry Caiden. That somehow the magic I gained could save me.

But what good is magic that can wake the dead when the threats against me are all alive?

“There. I think that does it,” Perla announces. She steps in front of me, her face alight with pride.

I don’t bother to force a smile. I might have to pretend I’m still Princess Sabina, but I don’t have to be happy about marrying the prince.

Perla’s assistant joins her, and she clasps her hands in front of her face as if in prayer. With a sigh, she lowers them. “You look stunning.”

The design is gorgeous and under any other circumstance, I’d revel in wearing such an exquisite gown.

The dress is fitted across the bodice and waist and cut low to expose my shoulders.

While most of the fabric is a gauzy cream color, black lace adorns the top, then travels down my hips where they fade like icicles.

The bottom of the skirts has more of the black lace reaching up like a living thing growing from the earth and climbing its way up.

Bell sleeves trimmed with more lace hide the god marks on my arms. It’s a work of art.

“Prince Caiden is a lucky man,” Perla says.

“Yes, he is.” Only because he was cunning enough to hold my friends hostage in exchange for my compliance.

Otherwise, he’d be dead. Now, it’s more likely Ludis will kill him for me.

My fingers tingle, and I squeeze my palms into fists.

I’d like to watch that. Then maybe my magic would be of use.

I could bring Caiden back and make him kill Ludis. Wouldn’t that be something.

“Your Highness?”

I snap back to the present and see that Perla is standing in front of me, waiting for a response.

“I’m sorry, what was that?” I ask.

“Do you need assistance to get out of the gown now, or should we send for your ladies?” Perla waits, posture straight and proper.

I hesitate, unsure of how to respond. She doesn’t know they’re gone. Did Caiden hide it from everyone? When he made me join him to tell the court his father was dead, he only allowed men into the room, insisting it was too traumatic for any of the ladies to hear.

I suppose it was an attempt to cover up that he’d sent all of mine away.

What will happen if I tell Perla the truth? Will she relay the information to the duchess? Will anyone care?

Another idea strikes me, and I force a smile. “Will you please ask the Enforcer to call for my ladies on your way out?”

“Of course, Your Highness.” Perla inclines her head in a bow, and her assistant drops into a curtsy.

They gather their things, then leave me staring at myself in the dress I’ll wear when I marry Caiden tomorrow.

Enough time passes that I worry Brevan sent for someone to help me. My shoulders sag, and I let out a long breath. He’s still avoiding me, and I don’t blame him.

I reach around my back, attempting to unhook the buttons that trail from my shoulder blades down to my tailbone. Maybe I shouldn’t have sent Perla away.

The door opens, then closes quickly, and my heart skips a beat when I see Brevan standing in my room.

It’s the first time we’ve been alone behind closed doors since the emperor’s death. Since he discovered my betrayal.

“Will you talk to me?” I beg. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what else I can say or do. I’m so sorry.”

“You got what you wanted, didn’t you? The emperor is dead, and your boyfriend is plotting regicide against his own father.”

“He’s not my boyfriend. You know that. And he lied to me. I had no idea he was a prince.”

“There seems to be a lot of that going around,” he says.

My heart feels like a weight in my stomach. “I deserve that.”

“Sabina—” He takes a deep breath, then lets it out. “That’s not even your real name.”

I shake my head. “No, it’s not.”

He runs a hand through his hair, then drops his arm to his side. He looks as defeated as I feel. “I risked everything for you. I thought you were worth it, but what happened between us could have cost my sister her life.”

It’s like a knife twisting in my chest. “You should go. I won’t put her in danger. I won’t speak to you like this again. I just want you to know I’m sorry. That what I felt, the things I said to you…wasn’t a lie.”

“Don’t say that. None of it was real. I never even met the real you.” He walks to the door then rests his hand on the doorknob. “You’re going to be the empress tomorrow, and it’s my duty to keep you safe. I will always keep you safe, Your Highness.”

When he closes the door behind him, I feel like I’ve shattered into a million pieces. He didn’t deserve what I did to him.

If I’m being honest with myself, I never deserved him at all.

I can’t even eat the morning of the wedding. I watched the sun rise from start to finish. It shouldn’t have been beautiful. Not today. When the maids arrived, I left my body, going through the motions, but not feeling a thing.

And now, I’m standing in front of the door, preparing to walk to my wedding.

“You look beautiful, sister,” Ludis says.

I glare at him. “You’re disgusting.”

“I can’t say you look beautiful?”

“No, you can’t. In fact, I’d prefer you not speak to me ever again. There’s a nice tower in the east wing you can jump from. If you’re too scared to do it, I’ll give you a push.”

“You really want to throw away everything we had?” He sets his hand on his chest as if my words pained him.

“The whole time you knew I looked like your sister. The whole time. Was that the plan while you got to know me? Or was it a convenient afterthought?”

He opens his mouth to speak, and I hold my hand up to stop him. “Never mind. I’m already sick to my stomach. I don’t think I want to know.”

He gives me a charming smile then inclines his head. “As you wish.”

“I hate you.”

“I don’t need you to like me. I need your acting skills to get into my father’s palace.” He bends his arm then offers me his elbow. “Shall we? You don’t want to be late to your own wedding.”

Brevan isn’t in the hallway when we leave my room, and I’m so grateful. For the first time since falling for him, I hope they sent him very far away. I don’t want him to see me like this. Surrendering and marrying another man.

My insides churn, and I fight for every step I take toward the ballroom. Anya. This is for Anya. I remind myself.

I don’t know how I manage to make it. The closed doors are the only thing separating me from the worst thing I’ve ever done.

In a few moments, my soul will die. It’s the only outcome for me.

Even suicide was off the table, Caiden made it very clear that if I took my own life, my ladies would be tortured and killed.

My fingers tingle. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing because the rest of me is numb.

Four guards stand at the ready, but one of them takes stiff steps toward me and hands me a folded piece of paper. It’s sealed with the Pendralian crest. My brow furrows when I look up at the guard, he nods, his eyes finding the parchment before he returns to his post.

I tear it open and read the tight script.

My Dearest Princess,

On this joyous occasion of our wedding, I want to introduce you to the guards who are ready to ride to the winter estate and carry out my very special plans if you should get cold feet today.

I look forward to declaring you my empress.

All My Love,

Caiden

My heart plummets, and despair washes over me.

The guards at the door watch me with impassive, hardened expressions.

I realize all of them are dressed for battle.

Leather armor instead of dress uniforms, weapons glinting from holsters.

These guards aren’t here for the protection of the people inside the ballroom.

They’re here in case they need to be dispatched to perform murder.

“At least you two will make beautiful children,” Ludis says while reading the letter over my shoulder. “I look forward to welcoming my niece or nephew to the palace in Iskvaland.”

I glare at him, then crumple the letter into a ball. “You’re insane if you thought I’d ever allow any child of my womb anywhere near you.” Not that I’m planning on ever having children with Caiden. I’ve already researched all the plants that can help me prevent or eliminate pregnancy just in case.

“Caiden didn’t tell you? We’ve reached a diplomatic exchange. Your firstborn will reside with me, and my firstborn will reside with you. Though, I do expect you’ll be with child long before I am.”

Bile crawls up my throat, and my body heats with rage. I grit my teeth resisting the urge to claw his throat out. He smiles, the satisfied expression telling me he knows exactly what I’m thinking.

As I’m digging through my skirts for the dagger pocket, the doors swing open and I drop my hand to my side. I blow out a long breath and scold myself. I nearly cost my ladies their lives. Ludis deserves to die, but not at their expense.

The ballroom is drenched in black silk. It covers every wall and every chair. All the guests rise from their seats; a sea of black gowns and black coats with black roses tucked into lapels and dark hair.