Chapter 129

Viona POV

The morning of the wedding dawned gray and hollow. No birds sang in the woods surrounding the estate, as though even nature held its breath for what was to come. I rose before the sun, not because I wished to, but because sleep had been a stranger to me for weeks. My reflection in the mirror was pale, eyes shadowed, lips pressed tight to keep them from trembling.

The gown lay waiting on its stand, ivory silk embroidered with threads of silver. It should have been a ...