When I reach my father’s study, I hear my mother talking and she sounds worked up. I tap on the door and open it without waiting for an invitation.
“Will you at least tell me what is happening with Alidonia to warrant such a drastic change in plan?” I stand over my father’s desk and he stands up to walk around it, putting his arm around my shoulder.
“Trust me when I say I wouldn’t have asked this of you unless it was urgent. We need the joint forces of Niaps—they need to know we have powerful allies.”
“That tells me nothing.”
“Eden!” my father spits out in frustration. “We do not have time for a temper tantrum. You wanted nothing more than to be married to Luka a couple of months ago. I ask you to look back at the sacrifice you were willing to make then and make your peace with it now. You speak about wanting to serve your country—it is time.”
“I will marry Luka. Tonight. Will my dress be ready in time?” I ask my mother.
She smooths her dress down and stands up, thrown by my sudden change of heart. “Adrian is working on it now. I need to take you to her for a fitting and any last-minute changes. But it’s getting late. We can surely wait until tomorrow?” She looks at my dad and he says nothing.
“Seems paramount that we do it tonight.” I can’t stop the bite in my voice and I ignore the look my dad gives me. “Let’s find Adrian.”
She hurries over to me and we leave the office. She takes my arm as soon as we shut the door. “It will all be okay, Eden. I have to believe that the good feelings you had about this in the beginning are key.”
I ignore her and let her lead me to where Adrian is working. When we enter the room, she is standing in front of my beautiful white beaded gown. The sleeves are long, but the neckline is low; the intricate diamonds glistening in the light make it glow.
“I would like to be married outside by the waterfall. It’s not frozen yet, right?”
“You’ll be chilly, Eden. Why don’t we have it in the ballroom? We have plenty of flowers to make it beautiful.”
“I’d like a white fur stole, faux is fine, to wear over my dress,” I speak over my mother and her brows furrow in the center as she frowns down at her hands. “That shouldn’t take long. The dress looks ready. We can still be married by eight.”
Adrian clasps her hands together. “A fur wrap will be perfect over this. I have just the piece.”
“Hear that, Mother? Perfect.” I turn and leave the room.
“Wait, don’t you want to try it on?” Adrian asks.
“I trust you got it right,” I tell her and she beams.
I walk down the dark hall to my bedroom, shut the door behind me, and lie down on the bed.
I’ve dreamed of my wedding countless times in this bed.
Now that it’s happening I feel nothing but dread.
Naive for thinking anything close to a fairy tale could ever come true.
Shame…for the way my body constantly betrays me when I’m around him.
I don’t stay idle for long. I take a long bath and after I’ve applied my makeup, I start on my hair. I decide to wear it up the way Brienne fixed it for the conservatory gathering, and realize I haven’t seen her since we got here. I’ve gotten used to having her company. Maybe she could help calm me down from this madness.
My mother raps on the door while I’m spraying a light mist over my body and hair, the smell of jasmine and vanilla filling the air. She walks in with my dress and a fur stole over it, looking subdued. Ava steps in behind her and sits on my bed. They’re both dressed in new gowns that Adrian must have already been working on for another occasion. Brienne stays near the doorway.
“Come in, Brienne,” I say over my shoulder.
“I’m good here, Lady Eden. Thank you.”
“You’re a valued part of our family. Come on in,” Mother tells her and then faces me. “We came to help you get dressed. It’s time.”
Ava hops down from the bed and comes to stand by me. “Your hair looks pretty.” She looks at me in the mirror and then turns to touch the diamonds in my ears.
I let them help me into the dress, numbly going through the motions. When the wrap is placed around my shoulders, I turn and walk to the door.
“You’re a vision,” my mother whispers. She shakes herself a bit and holds out her arm for me to take. “Come, let’s not keep your Luka waiting.”
I fall into step beside her, feeling like a puppet walking numbly to my fate.
Chapter Ten
When I step outside the family castle into the crisp air, I feel my identity fall off, just like the leaves of the trees as they die every year.
I’m shedding my old life, leaving it to become part of the earth around me. I will be leaving my heart here while carrying a shell of myself to Niaps.
Seeing Luka snaps me out of my morbid thoughts and I stop mid-stride. He’s a stunning solitary figure against the dark mountain behind him. Lights are hanging overhead, casting a spark on him that has nothing to do with marrying me. He’s already let me clearly know that he will be sleeping with other people—I can interpret pursuing other interests despite my inexperience—which is already incredibly demeaning. To know the last thing he wants is to be stuck with me leaves me feeling desolate. More alone than I ever thought possible on my wedding day.
A cello plays a woeful tune as I walk toward Luka Catano, my father by my side—fitting, considering the solemn mood of the evening. My father kisses my cheek and puts my hand in Luka’s. We turn and face the priest, but I look over my shoulder and see Jadon’s reassuring smile. I turn and try to pay attention to the priest’s words, but I can’t focus. The ground blurs at my feet and I wonder if I’m going to pass out. Luka nudges me and I realize it’s my time to speak. I only know I’ve said the words when Luka nods; I barely hear him say, “I do.”
A ring is slipped onto my finger and the priest produces one for me to put on Luka’s finger.
It’s the kiss that forces me out of my stupor. When Luka’s lips touch mine, my nerve endings wake up and I lean into him. His hand clasps my cheek almost tenderly and my eyes pop open. His eyes are clenched closed and he looks as if he’s in pain. I break the kiss and back up, breathless.
I’m married—I should be elated, floating on air. But I’m empty.
It’s all a lie. A façade. I want to run and never look back.
But I can’t. It’s hopeless.
Our priest announces us and everyone claps. The cello swells into a happier tune, Luka takes my arm, and we face our family. It’s then that I realize Luka’s father is standing next to Cece, a forbidding figure with a cold stare; Cece seems warm in comparison. I shiver when I see him, and Luka squeezes me closer through our linked arms. I glance at him and he gazes down at me with an unreadable expression.
“Hello, Mrs. Catano,” Luka whispers.
I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me.
* * *
“You should eat something.” Luka hands me a slice of bread and butter. “You’ll need your strength,” he says under his breath.
My eyes snap up to his. “I’ll pass.”
“We’ll see,” is all he says.
I used to dream of that smirk being directed at me, and now every time I see it, I want to smack it off his face.
“Settle down,” he says. “Your face is doing that red thing it does when you want to choke me to death. I’d like to live today, please. We should at least have a truce on our wedding day.”
I take a sip of my family’s vintage wine and turn to face him. “Quickest way to have me choke you to death is to call me out on my red face. Little tip there for your future, Prince Luka.”
He snorts. “You’re funny.” He chuckles and then goes completely straight-faced. I resist rolling my eyes because I’ve done far too much of that around him and I don’t like letting him know when he bothers me.
I’d rather him think I’m completely unaffected by him—the opposite of how I truly feel inside.
He unarms me. I’m intrigued by him, yet I loathe him.
I eat a few bites of the risotto dish specially prepared for me and talk to Jadon, who is sitting on the other side of me, for the rest of the meal. I’m dipping my spoon into the exquisite raspberry tart when the explosion sends me to the ground.
The priest falls near my feet and I shriek.
Father runs to our table and yells. “Get to the tunnels and as soon as it seems safe, go with the Catanos. The rest of us will go to our safe house.”
Another explosion goes off in the distance. Jadon and Luka both put their hands on my arm, each trying to pull me to safety. We crawl to the side and Luka’s parents and Ava are not far behind us. Jadon leads us to the tunnels, lighting a torch as we step inside and handing it to Luka.
“I’ll be behind you. Follow this to the end and there will be a boat to the airstrip. Go with him, Eden, and I will send word to you when we reach our hideout.”
I hug Jadon and Ava quickly, wiping my streaming face as we make our way through the barely lit tunnels. It feels as if we’ll never get there, my heart rate still in high gear, and just when I think I can’t stand the dark another second, we turn a corner and the opening is just ahead.
“Careful, son,” Titus says before Luka steps out. I notice he doesn’t offer to step out himself, but Luka doesn’t hesitate. He walks out of the tunnel and looks around quickly before peeking his head back in.
“I see the boat and everything looks calm. I don’t see another soul,” he says.
We step out gingerly but then quickly move to the boat once we’re all outside. I release a shaky breath of relief when we’re all on the sand and I see that Brienne is with us.
“Your mother sent me to watch out for you,” she says loud enough for everyone to hear. At this moment I’ve never been more grateful to have her by my side. I clasp her arm and nod.
No one speaks as Luka takes the oars and rows us at least ten minutes past the tunnels. The night is still, leaving no hints that explosions ever happened.
When we reach the airstrip and I see the plane waiting for us, I start to cry again. “I can’t leave my family,” I whisper to Luka when he helps me off the boat.
He makes sure his parents are off and the boat is secure then puts his arm around me and guides me to the plane.
“You’re following your father’s wishes,” he says. “He wanted you to go with us.”
“But why can’t we all go to the safe house? I need to make sure everyone gets out of here safely.”
Samuel greets us, a longtime employee of my father’s. “I will be your pilot this evening,” he says, motioning for us to climb the stairway up to the plane.
I take one last look around and Luka puts his hand on my shoulder. “They’ll be fine, I promise,” he says, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “We need to get out of here, though. I’ll make sure you get to safety. Okay?”
I let out a long exhale and step onto the plane. It takes a moment for my eyes to adjust to even the dimmest of lights. Luka helps me with my seat belt when my hands are shaking too hard to clasp the two ends together.
Brienne sits alone across the aisle and Luka’s parents face us. I feel like I’m on display as I sit there trying to not break down again. Luka takes my hand in his and it’s then I realize I’m wearing a beautiful stone. I hold my hand out to look at my wedding ring. A large oval diamond with tiny diamonds surround it and under that is a diamond wedding band that sparkles like crazy.
“Do you like it?” he asks.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.
I lean my head back against the seat as the image of the priest falling at my feet plays through my head over and over. I feel Titus’ eyes on me and it’s unsettling. Something about him sets me on edge.
Tears keep falling and Luka squeezes my hand tighter. We take off and once the seat belt light goes off and Samuel tells us we are free to move around the cabin, Luka whispers into my ear, “Is there a bedroom on this plane?”
Alarmed, I pull my hand from his and look at him.
He smiles. “I just want to get out from under these watchful eyes.” He leans back and waits for my nod before standing. “We’re going to rest a while,” he says to his parents.
Titus nods and Luka holds his hand out for me to take as we walk toward the back of the plane.
When he shuts the door behind us, I collapse onto the bed, sitting there in a daze.
“I wish we had something for you to change into,” Luka says, pulling the covers down on the bed. “You must be ready to get out of that.”
I don’t hear any sexual undertones in his words for once and I’m so grateful. I look at him and try to smile. “Thank you.” He looks confused, dropping the pillow and then putting it back in place. “For being kind,” I add.
“I’m sorry this day has turned out to be such a nightmare.” He pats the pillow, motioning for me to crawl into bed. “Come on, why don’t we try to get some sleep. I don’t even know what time zone we’re on right now, but I’m exhausted.”
I nod and drape my stole onto the back of a chair. My dress is bulky but not so full that it takes over the bed. I lie on top of the covers and Luka stands over me, studying me carefully. He takes off his jacket and puts it next to my fur. And then he lies next to me and says gruffly, “Would you be comfortable lying on your side?”
I turn to my side and feel his hands on my waist, pulling my back to his chest. I feel his breath on my hair when he sighs and I close my eyes. His arms feel so good around me, I think I’ll never be able to sleep. I’ll never be able to turn my mind off.
“Take a deep breath,” he whispers in my ear.
I do.
“And another.”
Luka has been so different today, almost sweet, I think as I slowly inhale and exhale one more time. Exhaustion suddenly takes over, and right before I fall asleep, I wonder which Luka I will wake up to.
Chapter Eleven
The pilot’s voice wakes me and I sit straight up. Luka follows, his arm still grasping my waist.
“What? What is it?” His voice is raspy with sleep and the sound makes my stomach flip-flop.
“We’re getting ready to land.”
He rubs his hands over his face and puts his feet on the floor, getting his bearings. I put the stole over me like a blanket. It’s chilly without his arms around me. He eventually steps next to me and we stand at the door, pausing before facing his parents.
“You slept?” he asks, his eyes grave as he looks at me.
I wipe under my eyes, hoping I don’t have mascara everywhere. “Yes, thank you. You?”
I don’t know why I’m suddenly shy with him, but I am.
“Like a rock. Woke up like a rock too.” I think that’s what he says, but I can’t be sure because the pilot speaks again.
When we step out of the bedroom, Luka’s parents are talking and don’t acknowledge us, which is a relief. I expected them to tease us for sleeping together. We buckle up quickly and our landing is smooth.
“We’ll be taking a short flight with one of our planes from here. Just a short flight,” Titus says briskly. He turns to Samuel when he steps out of the cockpit. “Thank you for getting us here safely.”
“My pleasure,” Samuel says. He turns to me then and gives me a slight bow. “I wish you the utmost happiness, Lady Catano. I hope to see you again in better circumstances.”
“Thank you, Samuel. I appreciate that. I hope so too.”
He opens the door to the plane and when I reach the top of the stairs, I’m hit with scorching heat. Another plane sits a few hundred meters away and I follow Titus and Cece. Luka walks beside me, Brienne behind us. I don’t know what to make of Luka’s new demeanor. If this is him as a husband, it’s not bad.
When we get on the Catano family plane, I am shocked by the extravagance. Our jet is lovely and spacious, but simple. Theirs is three times the size and feels like stepping into a luxurious living room. It doesn�
��t even feel like a plane.
We buckle up and it seems we’ve barely taken off when we’re landing again. This time I’m not so startled by the heat as I step off of the plane. We have no belongings with us, so it takes no time to get into the waiting car and drive to a deserted house nestled in the palm trees and overlooking the ocean.
“This is one of our family homes that is remote enough to be considered a safe house,” Cece informs me as we step inside the home that looks like an extension of the jet, only less colorful. Everything is white but manages to look even more inviting. “It is yours now too. As long as you remain loyal to us, of course,” she adds, smiling her enigmatic smile.
I swallow hard and nod. “Thank you. I don’t suppose—there hasn’t been any word yet from my family, has there?”
“Your father let me know when they arrived at their location,” Titus says. “He said they will wait a week and make sure everything is clear before returning to Farrow.”
I deflate, putting my fist across my mouth when my eyes well up again. “Thank God,” I whisper.
“You should have told her as soon as you heard,” Luka says, his words sharp with anger.
“I didn’t want to disturb the two of you.” Titus never seems to get ruffled. His tone is cool and unaffected. I wonder if he ever shows any emotion other than annoyance or disinterest.
“We will leave at nightfall so you and Luka can get to know one another better,” Cece says. She goes to the refrigerator and opens it, showing me that it’s fully stocked.
“You’re leaving us here?” Luka speaks up before I can, and we both turn expectant eyes on her.
“Of course,” she shrugs, “it’s your honeymoon. What better place to be than a deserted tropical paradise? There are enough provisions to last you the week. You’ll find clothes in your room.” She points to a door. “That’s the pantry and there’s enough food in there to feed an army…otherwise known as Luka.” She laughs and it makes me jump. I’m still shaken from the events of the night before…it’s too soon to be so lighthearted. “There is also a full-time housekeeper and chef on-site who will take care of things should you wish to not lift a finger.” Her lips jut out with an exaggerated smirk. “I’m sure they will be happy to serve you in bed.”
Downfall: Kingdoms of Sin, Book #1 Page 6