Chapter 27 · Drag the Wrong Bride to Court

"Lena, run."

Mom's voice cracked on the second word. She shoved the vial into my coat pocket and pushed me toward the greenhouse door.

I didn't move.

Behind me, Kael's breathing turned wet and ragged. Bones snapped louder this time. His spine arched wrong. The wolf wasn't asking anymore.

"She can't run." Vera's heels clicked across broken glass. "The grounds are locked. Court opens in ninety seconds. If she's not in the hall when Dorian calls her name, the crown executes her for contempt."

Mom grabbed my wrist. Her hand shook. "Then you go to that court and you tell them—"

"Tell them what?" I yanked free. "That you've been alive this whole time? That you worked for her? That you let me think you burned?"

"I did it to keep you safe."

"You did it to keep yourself breathing."

The words came out cold and sharp and I wanted them back the second they landed.