Page 201 of Bride By Coronation

"Nowhere in the Royal Doctrine does it state I don't have access to my royal quarters," I say, scowling at Ulrich.

He grins. "It does when the Tainted Crown gets incorporated with a Ceremony of Exposure."

My blood boils. I argue, "You cannot and will not subject the queen?—"

"The Omni will do what we determine is best for The Underworld, and subject to provision 469," he roars, his eyes lighting with fire.

Provision 469 says the Omni have full authority to utilize a Ceremony of Exposure should the violation be significant enough to alter the state of The Underworld.

My mouth goes dry, and a lump forms in my throat. I swallow and look away.

"Move," Ulrich demands.

I continue walking down the hallway. We turn a corner.

He opens a door to a small room, ordering, "In."

I don't argue, stepping inside. There's one locker and a small bathroom. My crown sits on the table on top of a black pillow.

Where is Fiona?

Anxiety fills me.

"You know the drill," Ulrich says, then leans back against the wall with his arms crossed.

Begrudgingly, I strip out of my clothes, hang them in the locker, then put on the crown.

"Time to go," he declares and opens the door.

We walk through more hallways, and right as he reaches for the doorknob to the arena, I promise, "Before the sun rises, we will have one more ritual."

He arches his eyebrows.

I glare at him.

He grins. "I'll play along. Which one?"

"The Black Veil. And you'll be the groom."

He grunts. "Keep dreaming, Kirill." He pushes the door open.

My ears ring from the loud sound of lit torches being pounded on the ground. All the members in attendance are dressed for the occasion: men wear full skull masks and tuxedos, while the women don eye masks and long, white satin gowns. The stage has two guillotines next to each other. An X is painted on the floor in front of them. Dozens of roaring bonfires sizzle around them. Knights line up with gleaming swords pointed high in the air.

The crowd chants the Buddhist mantra associated with compassion and inner light, "Om Mani Padme Hum," but I already know nothing tonight will be compassionate or display an inner light.

I have to get us out of this.

Where is Fiona?

The chant morphs to hissing as I climb the steps to the stage, stand on the X, and scan the arena.

On the opposite side, I spot Fiona in nothing but a tiara. Wrath fills me like never before. I know the Ceremony of Exposure requires us both to be naked, but seeing her frightened and stripped of her clothes, paraded in front of the membership, makes it real.

I curl my fists, hating how no Omni has ever ordered a Ceremony of Exposure for a queen. It's pure disrespect, and if a miracle happens and we get through this, I vow to make all of them pay.

"Oh! Oh!" the women moan while the men continue to hiss.

Fiona's cheeks burn maroon. She climbs the steps, pins her frightened greens on me, and breaks away from the security. She flies into my arms.

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