Page 93 of Monsters in Love

Her jaw dropped. “You wouldn’t dare.”

“No?” Emmi’s chin jutted out and she kicked off a slipper. “Mama sent me out here to collect you, so we could get ready for the fete. I figure if I’m already naked, there’s one step accomplished.”

“Stop.” Isabelle caught her sister’s hands before she could untie her overskirt. “Please.”

“Thentellme.” Emmi’s voice broke. “I can’t help if you won’t tell me.”

“I can’t,” Belle hissed. “It’s too…”

The clatter of iron horseshoes against stone had her swallowing her words. She slowly lifted her gaze to regard the trio of riders trotting along the edge of town. Jaston and his guard, their armor bright with warning. Jaston lifted a hand, and the ground seemed to tremble beneath her. Or maybe that was her body, quaking with horror at the thought of those hands touching her skin.

She gripped her sister’s shoulders.

Emmi twisted around to stare at the guards. “Demons suck buns,” she muttered. “It’s that jackass, isn’t it?”

“Hush,” Belle whispered between her teeth, her lips curving into what had to be a failed attempt at a smile. She forced herself to lift a hand and wave at Jaston. His answering smile was a flash of white teeth that reminded her of a fox in a henhouse, while his eyes were sharp as a hawk’s, searching for weakness. “For the love of the fallen gods,” she hissed, “smile and wave.”

For once, Emmi didn’t argue.

If her sister’s wave resembled a washer working on a stubborn stain, the guards didn’t appear to notice.

In silent agreement, they held their respective poses until the guard had passed the turn for the farm and continued along the western border of central Windhaven. As the figures grew smaller, Belle sagged, a mix of relief and dread churning through her middle.

He’s going to demand my hand tonight.

Cupping her hands over her mouth, she tried to catch her breath.

“Oh, Belle,” Emmi whispered. “The bastard announced his intentions, hasn’t he?”

Unable to muster a lie, Isabelle gave a miserable nod. “He does not care that I don’t want him.”

“I imagine that’s the appeal.” Emmi snorted. “He’s a bully.”

When had her sister gotten so wise?

“I don’t know what to do,” she confessed.

“Hmm.” Emmi chewed on her lip. “He knows you despise him and he likes it—you can’t reason with that kind of man. So… we go? Stuff my majority. We could leave for the woods tonight—”

“Too dangerous.” Isabelle shook her head. “We can’t.”

Jaston might expect her to make just such a move—he and his guards had been awfully present today. Besides, the miller and others weren’t ready yet. She couldn’t put their plans in jeopardy. “We have no supplies prepared, and no way of gathering any without being noticed. Besides, leaving with someone still considered a child? The guard won’t stop hunting us.”

“Fine, fine.” Emmi crossed her arms. “But you’re marrying that horse’s ass over my rotting corpse.”

Isabelle sucked in a breath. “Don’t speak of such things.”

After the past year, she couldn't eventhinkof losing her sister.

Still, Emmi was right. Isabelle truly could not marry that horrid man. Lying with anyone other than Thomas felt like a betrayal. But Jaston? That would be so much worse. “You’re right. I can’t.” She ran her hands over her hair and searched the shorn fields for inspiration. “But we cannot reason with him or appeal to a better nature. We don’t have the funds for bribery…”

“We can’t even try sugar buns.” Emmi slanted a glance at her. “You could get ugly real fast?”

Isabelle couldn’t help it, she laughed. “Oh, is that all?”

“I know, I know.” Emmi stuck out her tongue. “You’re too pretty for your own good. That ass wants the ‘prettiest girl’ in the town.” Her sister smacked her lips together with exaggerated distaste. “He’s always talking about your hair and figure. Ugh. It’s like you’re a prize horse and not a person.”

“Neigh.” Belle puffed out her cheeks, then lifted her gaze to the sky. “Perhaps if I smelled like a horse, he’d look elsewhere…”

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