My dress hugs my curves. The form-fitting black lace shows off every part of me that only Zack will ever get to touch from now on. He can’t see my dreamy expression through the dark veil draped over my face, but it’s there as I drink him in.
Zack is breathtaking, standing there at the altar in his black suit, all splattered in blood. The large red and black stained-glass window is just behind him, and it glows down on him, making him look like my very own prince of hell.
Since I only get to experience this moment once, I take my time walking down the aisle, and let it all sink in. Zack’s beautiful presence, the ethereal sounds ofSleep Tokenas the piano echoes around the hall, and the scent of death lingering in the air. Complementing the music are the most satisfying sounds in the world: the groans and sobs of dying men.
I keep my head held high as I pass them. They hold no power over me now. The only man I’ll ever bend for is right in front of me.
Our beings are connected in a way I never thought possible. In just one night, we fell in love. Anytime I imagine my life without Zack in it, all I see is an empty black hole. Cold, dark, and so lonely.
When I reach him, he lifts my veil with his heavily ringed fingers, and I’m stunned by the light shining in his blue eyes.
Every time I look at him, I want to soak him all in like it might be the last time.
His white hair is now streaked with blood, and it sends a pulse of excitement through my body.
The whole sight of him makes my knees weak.
His fingers brush my cheek, and I lean into that touch and sigh happily. He looks just as content as I feel.
“You’re fucking breathtaking, little sinner.”
I kiss him like I’ll die if I don’t.
Being on holy ground makes the sinful taste of him even more delicious.
I want to stay like this forever, feasting on his wickedness, transferring it into myself to fuel my own dark heart. But he pulls away far too soon, making me pout with need.
Cupping his hand around the back of my neck, he says, “I’m pretty sure the kissing part comes after we say I do.”
I let out a throaty chuckle. “This is our house now. Not God’s. Which means we can do whatever we like.”
Whines and gargled sobs come from behind me. Slowly, I turn and smile down at our guests. I’m shocked to see the blood pouring down their chins onto their chests.
I raise an eyebrow at Zack, and he shrugs. “They were talking a lot, so I took away their tongues.”
“All of them?”
Zack bends down so we’re at eye level. “Don’t worry, darlin’, I’m not about to screw up the best night of my life.”
The best night?For me, I thought that was the night we met, but now that I’m standing in the place of my nightmares with the men who wanted to break me taking their final breaths, and the love of my life at my side, I know I agree with him. This is the moment I’ll cherish forever.
The Fathers—whose eyes are still open—all glare at me. The one who doesn’t have blood coming from his mouth glares the hardest.Father Stone.I can’t say he was the worst of them all, they each had their own unique ways of inflicting pain that I’ll never be able to forget. But he always had a quiet malice to him that allowed him to keep order in this place.
I stare at him, waiting for him to say something, but his thin lips remain pursed tight. He looks close to death, and I’m sure he knows it too. Perhaps, he thinks if he does what he’s told, we’ll spare him.
Taking a step forward, I say, “Thank you all for beinghere tonight to celebrate this very special moment with us. Most of you should remember me. I’d be offended if you didn’t after how intimate we were.” I sneer out the last few words. “There are a few new faces here, so I’ll give you a quick introduction. I’m Chloe, a disgraced member of your flock. This is Zack. You don’t know him, but he saved me, and he’s the most perfect nightmare come to life. After I killed Father Daniels?—”
“I knew it!” Father Stone exclaims.
Zack claps slowly, and I feel the protective heat of his body as he comes to stand behind me. “Well done, you learned that two plus two equals four,” he scoffs. “Of course, it was Chloe. She disappeared on the same night his head was bashed in. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that shit out.”
“Why come back here? You made it out. You could have stayed gone rather than disturbing our peace.”
I storm down the few steps to the pews and grab him by the collar. “You call this fucking peace? This place is hell! You…” I cast my anger over all the men surrounding him, “are all monsters, not deserving of anything other than suffering! I hope hell is real so that you get to spend eternity there never knowing peace again.”
I yank the knife out of his stomach, cut his ties, and drag him off the seat, shoving him toward Zack.
“Get him set up for the ceremony,” I command.
