Page 19 of Vows of Blood
Oh. I am alone, aren’t I?
I glance around at the plush beige sofa I’m sitting on and the fancy mirror on the other side of the room. Beyond that are windows that are big enough for me to fit through… Although I am on the second floor.
There’s supposed to be somebody guarding the door, but I didn’t hear Anya talking to anybody when she left. I get up and walk to the door… and I open it slightly.
Peering out through the tiny crack, I don’t see anyone. I don’t hear anybody either. I take a breath and open it all the way, poking my head out.
No one’s here. Oh, my gosh,finally. This is my car full of gas and it showed up at the zero hour.
Better late than never, I always say. I gather up the dress, hiking it up just above my knees, and I creep down the hallway.
The church is pretty big. It was like a maze coming through here when I first arrived. I tried to pay attention to every turn I took, however, just in case an opportunity such as this came up. It’s serving me well so far.
I manage to find the stairs, so I rush down them and it leads me right to the main hallway before the sanctuary. Both doors look like ancient medieval doorways, impossibly large wood things with oversized brass handles. It really lends to this whole ancient princess escaping a castle theme.
I rush toward the door leading out and put my hand on the door handle and pull it open. I get the heavy door open a crack just before a large hand comes out of nowhere and pushes it back closed.
I look up and Alexei’s standing over me, his muscular arm over my head as he leans against the door, holding it shut. Startled, I jump back. He’s got on his tuxedo, but without the jacket. He’s just in a vest and his dress shirt, and the sleeves are rolled up to his muscular forearms.
He looks… good. His beard is trimmed, and his blond hair is combed and gelled neatly in place. His forearms look like they could hold up tree trunks. He raises an eyebrow at me.
“Going somewhere?”
I’m stunned silent for a moment. I gather myself quickly and stammer, “I was just… I needed some air.”
He leans his shoulder against the door, his eyes surveying me slowly. “Air, huh?”
I nod. One side of his mouth turns up into a smile. It changes his face almost entirely. His eyes seem softer and the creases around his mouth suggest someone who might actually enjoy a good laugh.
“No sense starting this bullshit marriage on a lie,” he says, crossing his arms. “Where’s your bodyguard?”
“No idea,” I say, standing up a little taller. I stick my chest out instinctively and his eyes dart down to my cleavage. “Probably went to the bathroom or something. You can’t blame a girl for trying to make a getaway.”
“No, I guess I can’t.”
We stare at each other for a few seconds and it occurs to me that we’re both victims in this. Maybe I can appeal to his sense of fairness and get him to let me leave.
“So, you’re not thrilled about this arrangement either, I take it?”
The smile disappears. “How we feel about it is irrelevant. The deal’s done.”
“It doesn’t have to be. We don’t have to?—”
“Save it, Isabella.”
The baritone in his voice hits me square in the chest and silences me. My heart jumps a little and a chill runs over my skin all at once. Three words out of his mouth and everything is emptied out of my brain.
“There are only two ways out of this building,” he says. “Through the sanctuary where our two families are gathering, and out there where our bridal party is waiting for our betrothal.”
I blink. “Betrothal. What do you mean ‘betrothal’? We’re already?—”
“It’s a part of the ceremony,” he says. “My father was raised Orthodox, so parts of this wedding are going to be pretty traditional.”
I frown at him. I wasn’t told about any of this. But then, I guess a rehearsal was out of the question since our parents are tryingto make this thing happen quickly. I sigh, rubbing the bridge of my nose.
“Someone should have said something. Do I have to do or say anything?”
“Just follow my lead. It’ll be fine.”
