Marked Prince - Michelle M. Pillow Page 0,10

over the dress.

Fiora again refused to take it. She saw the stubbornness in her sister’s expression. “You haven’t changed.”

“Yes, I have. I will not hesitate again.” Salena shook the dress insistently. “Now hurry.”

Fiora knew there was no point in arguing with her. She pulled her shirt over her head and thrust it at her sister. “Is Piera with you?”

“No. I hoped you knew something about her.” Salena took Fiora’s shirt and slipped it on.

Fiora stepped out of the pant legs. “What do you mean, you won’t hesitate again?”

The tight dress lacked both style and comfort. She had to jerk her body back and forth to shimmy into it.

“That night they killed our parents. I hesitated, and we were captured.” Salena took a deep breath and finished putting on Fiora’s clothing. “I’m so sorry. I will not hesitate again.”

Fiora frowned at the memory. Thanks to Sten, it burned brightly in her mind. She’d relived it often, every painful detail. “You can’t honestly blame yourself for that night.” She tugged the hat off her head, and then the string binding her long hair. “We were children.”

“Not according to Noire law.” Salena’s eyes hazed over as if she too recalled that night.

“We were children,” Fiora repeated, not leaving room for argument. There was plenty of blame to go around about that night, and none of it landed on the three sisters. “Kneel.”

Salena obeyed. Fiora brushed her fingers through her sister’s hair to lift it away from her face. Before she finished, the door opened.

Her sister’s husband poked his head in with his hand covering his eyes. “I heard your plan from outside. Are you dressed?”

Fiora wondered how he could have heard. They had not been talking very loudly.

“Yes, you can look,” Salena said. “Do you have the ring?”

“Here.” He held up the piece of jewelry.

“Show Fiora how to use it. You’re going to escort her back to the party. I’ll be out shortly.” Salena paused long enough to kiss him.

Fiora averted her eyes at the affection, waiting until it was over. She then placed the cap on Salena’s head. Her hands shook. She didn’t like this idea. It was too big of a risk. “Don’t forget to speak in riddles. I never tell them their futures plainly.”

“I remember,” Salena said, standing.

Fiora grabbed her sister’s hands. There was so much she wanted to say. “I still cannot see my own destiny, so if this goes poorly, I love you, and thank you.”

“Nothing is going to happen to you,” Salena said. “Stay by Grier. You can trust him with your life.”

Grier took Fiora’s hand. At the contact, she felt the heat of flames erupting around them, and heard the crackling of a fire. He slid a ring onto her finger and released her. “Twist the setting when you’re ready.”

Fiora glanced at her hand and turned the stone. Pain erupted all over her body, and she felt as if something pushed from inside her to get out. The sensation didn’t last long, and when it was over, she was staring at a body that was not her own.

“Go,” Salena ordered.

“I still say—” The whine of her own voice caused Fiora to flinch.

“You’ll get used to it,” Salena told her, gently nudging her to leave.

Grier led her in awkward silence toward the banquet. He kept glancing over his shoulder toward his wife and then down at her.

“How long have you been married?” she asked.

“It’s new,” he answered, distracted. “I don’t like this.”

“Me either. Should we get Salena and switch back?” Fiora asked. He probably wanted his wife safe, more so than a sister-by-marriage stranger.

To her surprise, he answered, “No. I trust her, and I don’t have a better plan. How else are we to get you out of here? I am of the understanding you cannot do what she does.”

The words stung a little, though she wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the intimidating way he said them.

He again stared at her. His eyes shifted with an inner light, managing to be both mesmerizing and terrifying at the same time.

“I forgot how fascinated people seemed to be by seeing the three of us together,” Fiora said.

Grier instantly averted his gaze, as if just now realizing he was staring. “You don’t look like her now. Though, it is a remarkable resemblance before you put the ring on. Your hair is longer.”

Fiora glanced at her strange hands. She slipped her morphed fingers onto his arm and let him lead her into the crowded hall. The timelines hit her with