The problem is, if there’s any link between Uther and the Butyrskayas at all, I’m not going to find it this way, so there’s nothing more I can do here.
“Nothing to worry about now,” I decide to say so he knows I haven’t dropped the topic. “See you at the wedding. Make sure everything is ready for me.”
“It will be ready.” His hard glare tells me he wishes he could try to kill me again.
“Perfect, because every time I see you, I want to kill you and I have to remind myself why I won’t give you death just yet.”
One last scrutinizing stare, and I leave.
Maybe time will tell his truth.
Or it won’t.
Either way, he will meet his end.
Chapter28
Anastasia
“Oh my God, wow.” Lorelai gasps when she walks into the hall and sees my wedding dress.
She just arrived. As she does work experience at the theater off campus on Thursdays, this is the first chance we’ve had to see each other. Normally she’s at the theater until much later. But after the way I left campus yesterday with Desmier, I knew she’d find a way to maneuver her schedule and see me.
My head is still spinning from everything that happened and my body buzzing with sexual heat. I don’t even know if I can talk the way she wants me to because I haven’t been myself since I hopped on Desmier’s motorcycle. It’s like we rode into an alternate universe and my head is still stuck in the clouds.
Lorelai saunters up to me, gives me a quick hug then we both stare at my dress.
“That is gorgeous, Anastasia.” She brings her hands to her heart and smiles at me.
“Thank you. It really is gorgeous.” Now I’m grateful I had Ehlga’s help when we went to the bridal store. That day I wouldn’t have cared if I’d got married in a trash bag.
Wedding dress number two is not designed by Vera Wang but it’s more breathtaking than the previous dress I had. It’s a beautiful, beautiful Lord of the Rings style Elvish gown that looks like it could have been made by the elves themselves in the film. Or like an angel should wear it.
It’s hanging on the body of a mannequin in the center of the hall where it will stay until I’m ready to wear it next Saturday.
I came home from college about twenty minutes ago and saw it here—ready and waiting for me. The seamstress was here too and she explained the final plans for next week. Ehlga insisted on keeping the dress on the mannequin in here because it looks so good, and she didn’t want the fabric to wrinkle. As this hall is mainly used to display the paintings lining the walls, she thought it would be the perfect place to store it.
“Your dress will be ready in a few days.” I glance at Lorelai as she walks around the mannequin, lifting the light chiffon fabric. Hers will be a similar style but in burgundy.
“I can’t wait.” There’s a bounce in her step as she comes back to me, and I swear she looks happier than when I was getting married to Viktor. “Can we please talk now? I swear to God, Anastasia, you could kill a girl with suspense.”
My cheeks heat and I bring my hand to my head, biting back that same smile that kept trying to come out all day whenever I thought of Desmier.
I’m like a silly high school girl with a crush on the most popular guy. I shouldn’t be, because I still have to keep my head above water. It’s just that last night was unreal.
“Well?” Lorelai prods, yanking my arm. “Tell me what happened. The clock’s ticking and I have even less time than I had one minute ago.”
We laugh, but there’s a dimness in her eyes. She has an hour with me because she’ll be going to a family dinner with the Konstantins. She’s at that stage where her family and the Konstantins are trying to get close and do things together. As I haven’t been anywhere for a while, I don’t know if she’s still seeing Zakh, but I assume she is.
“There was a lot.”
“Okay, let’s go talk.” She links her arm with mine and we go outside to the terrace to sit on the bench.
I’m glad no one is out here and the closest guard is way across the garden, completely out of earshot.
When she looks at me with expectancy, I bite the inside of my lip and curiosity washes over her face.
“You slept with him, didn’t you?” she asks in a quiet, but excited whisper-shout.