Blood-Red Bridal Robe

Adrian caught me.

Of course he did.

One moment I was falling.

The next, I was in his arms.

His body shook violently.

“Clara,” he breathed. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.”

Time should have stopped.

Just for one breath.

Just long enough for me to remember what safety felt like.

But from the wall, Selene’s voice floated down.

“She has my poison in her. If you wish to reminisce, watch the time.”

Cassian dragged a woman to the edge.

“Clara, look.”

Mother.

A knife pressed against her throat.

I jumped down from Adrian’s horse.

My legs nearly failed.

Adrian caught my hand.

I held on.

Just once.

Just this once.

I traced his brows with my other hand.

His eyes closed under my touch.

“Adrian.”

“I’m here.”

“The world cannot belong to a man like him.”

“I know.”

“So…”

“No.”

He knew.

He always knew me too well.

“No, Clara.”

The wind roared.

Or perhaps that was him screaming before I moved.

The dagger slid from my sleeve into my hand.

I turned it toward myself.

If I lived, Cassian would use me again.

If I lived, Adrian would hesitate again.

If I lived, thousands might die because he loved me.

I could not allow it.

The blade entered my body.

Strangely, it did not hurt.

Not at first.

Adrian’s scream tore through the battlefield.

He fell to his knees, holding me as blood spread over his armor.

His beautiful peach-blossom eyes lost all light.

He pressed his hands to the wound, shaking his head like a child refusing a nightmare.

I wanted to lift my hand.

To touch his face.

To tell him generals should not kneel.

But my arm would not move.

The blood dyed my white dress red.

A bridal red.

So this was my wedding robe after all.

I closed my eyes.

In the dark, I saw a young man riding through the streets, imperial decree in hand, smiling so brightly the whole world seemed new.

“Clara!” he shouted. “I’ve come to marry you!”

At last.

At last, he had.