The moment I either gave up my freedom or got myself killed for refusing.
Dad offered me his arm as I reached the doorway, but I stepped past him.
“I’m not a human, and you’re not enough of a father to walk me down the aisle,” I said flatly.
He growled, but I was already storming down the stairs.
My emotions were a whirlwind.
Anger.
Pain.
Fear.
Loss.
There were kitsune guards at every turn. Every door. Every window.
I glared at every one of them.
Most wouldn’t meet my eyes.
The walk through the mansion’s double doors and out to the snow-dusted garden that had been decorated for the ceremony was a blur.
I was outside too soon.
Facing the music too soon.
My bare feet faltered as I stepped out onto a long, elegant rug. My dress was too long, because I’d refused to wear the three-inch heels. I was walking on it with every step, but I didn’t give a damn.
The humans’ wedding song played while I forced myself to keep moving.
It felt more like a funeral march.
I didn’t let myself look at the smirking fucker waiting at the end of the aisle. He stood alone, functioning as the officiator and the groom at once.
Magical vows didn’t require officiating.
And he was far too full of himself to put anyone in a power position behind him.
He held his hands out toward mine after I took three steps up onto the small platform set up for us.
I refused to take them.
He cleared his throat.
I lifted my glare to his smug, narrowed eyes.
There was motion off to my side, but I didn’t look over as my dad and the alpha’s mom found their seats. They murmured something about complications.
“Give me your hands,” the alpha said, still wearing that fake smile.
My glare heated.
I held out for a moment, but the narrowing of his eyes told me I was going to regret refusing him.
He could still hurt me. And he would.
