“What?” I snarled. I’d never been so short with her. “Just what the fuck is so fucking amusing to everybody this morning?”
She tried to smother her laughter with a hand. With no success whatsoever. “I’m glad to see you in such high spirits.”
I glowered. “I’m not in high spirits. I’m in pissed spirits.”
“But why? You’re married now. Completely. And were incredibly loud about it, might I add.”
“Oh. Gods.” Warmth drained from my cheeks. “You heard that?”
“It was impossible not to. At least the first time. Well, and the second. And the third. And the?—”
“All right.” I flung a palm in the air. “You’ve made your point. Just...” I cast a frantic glance around, then remembered the annulment and thrust the paper at her. “Here. This came, and it’s signed. Which makes Kai not my husband anymore. In a few minutes, he’ll beyourhusband.”
That sobered her. The amusement dropped from her face. “You and I both know that’s not valid.”
That gave me pause. I couldn’t fathom how she knew that.
“I told you weeks ago he wasn’t who we thought,” she continued.
I stiffened, but she was right. Shehadtold me, and I’d deemed it nonsense. For years, I’d deemed her musings nonsense, when all this time, she’d seen things more clearly than I had. Maybe because she was divine, or maybe just because I was an idiot.
Either way, I shrank inward, collapsing on myself. “Okay, yes, you did. And I should’ve listened. All this time, I should’ve listened to you. I’m sorry I haven’t been better about that.”
“It’s all right.” She gifted me with a smile I definitely didn’t deserve. “You’ve done your best.”
“I’ve...tried.” I went to the bed, suddenly meek, and sat. “I hope you know that everything I’ve done, I’ve done for you.”
“I do know. Though I wish you’d put yourself first, sometimes.”
“I have, though. I do.” I heaved a sigh, my anger spent. “I mean, that’s all last night was, Am. Me being selfish. Because I definitely shouldn’t have had sex with your husband all those times. I just...I don’t know. I couldn’t help myself. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not,” she said.
A fleeting smile passed over my lips. “Well, whatever. It’s finished. Now we’ll get you to Hightower and start over. I’ll do a better job of listening to you, and you’ll eat all the food we can find, and things’ll get better. There won’t be any nightmares to deal with. No swamp goddesses whispering your name.”
Her gray eyes turned solemn, her regard steady. “And you’ll be happy there.”
“Yes. You, too. I just need you to marry Kai, okay? Without telling anyone who he is. Or isn’t. Please.”
She pressed her lips together. “All right. Then I’ll wear the dress, if you want. Stand in the library. Say the words. I’ll even let him kiss me, if it pleases you.”
I swallowed hard. It would do the exact opposite of please me, but whatever.
I’d survive.
Within minutes, I was standing at Amryssa’s vanity, pinning up her hair while she fiddled with her gown. It was the same dress I’d worn months ago, and I tried to shut out the memories it evoked.
But I could practically feel the scratch of the cypress vine around my wrist. The weight of the marriage crown circling my scalp.
My thoughts wandered. What would’ve happened if I’d stopped Kai from untying our vine that night? If we’d left it on until morning, as intended, would Zephyrine have blessed our union?
Goddess.I shook myself.Get a grip.
I forced my focus back to my task, pinning a crown of braids atop Amryssa’s head.
Her gaze caught mine in the mirror. She gave me a hopeful smile. “Ready?”
I smiled back. “I think I’m supposed to be the one asking you that.”
