Sleep didn't find me that night.

The darkness stared back at me behind my eyelids. A shadow shifted in the obsidian depths, and something beckoned for me to join it. To descend to someplace deeper than the Hells. A place with no beginning and no after. That is what greeted me every time I closed my eyes, but I didn't have time to contemplate it. I had to think of tomorrow and what was at stake. Even so, it spoke to me.

You are a bringer of Death, it said in a deep and primordial tone with a hint of mocking.

Have you not been paying attention to you life? You are not capable of saving lives. Screams are your song, and its lyrics are written in blood.

I laid on my back as those words played across my mind, listening to Myra's deep breathing in the next room. In the silence of the night, I realized that it was the final time I would hear it. Whether I succeeded or failed tomorrow, I would never see any of them again after the ceremony. I wanted nothing more than to disappear the next day, pay my debt, and board my ship to the Far Shore. To do that, I needed to turn my back on Tumblend and never darken its streets again. Those who I cared about would be safer as long as I stayed far, far away.

End of story. That was what I wanted.

Wasn't it?

My hand strayed to the Marks on my neck again and again. I thought of my long-awaited afterlife, and thought of Death. I thought of Fate, and those beyond its reach. What I was, and my purpose tomorrow.

You're right, I thought in answer to that voice, but who I deliver to Death is my choice.

I shifted, allowing my eyes to closed again. I stared at the thing in the blackness, imaging the beast that hid in the shadows. The shadows that I used in battle. The shadows that saved me when all else failed.

"Now," I whispered to it, "For the last time, fuck off."

*******

"Miss Rowena, take some powder. You look like a raccoon," Myra said, fluffing an already perfect curl. Addie's gentle hands turned me and she used a brush to add a tincture to the skin under my eyes. Myra pulled on her silken white gloves as the Matron looked me up and down, scowling at my pale face.

"You look as if you 'ave not slept in a week," she said dourly. Addie patted my shoulder comfortingly, her hand cupping my cheek for the smallest moment. I could hear voices outside the door as the Beaufoutonte manor steadily filled with people awaiting the ceremony. We were all gathered in Myra's bedroom to get ourselves presentable. As I looked out into the backyard, I saw the large gazebo that had been set up with the customary bonfires of the Blue Moon Festival melting the snow. The crackling flames were doing their work, drying the grass and stone patio the ceremony would be held on. I was glad that they changed the location of the wedding to the manor, because protecting Myra in the town square would have been a Gods-damned nightmare.

I tore my gaze away from the window as Addie finished with her brush.

"You should be thanking me, Matron," I replied dryly, "I didn't want to outshine the bride at her own wedding ceremony."

Myra snorted behind her gloved hand, batting her lashes at me.

"Miss Rowena, have you seen me? That was never a concern."

"Refrain from making zhat infernal sound again!" the Matron snapped, her scowl deepening. She reached out and gave a sharp tug on Myra's ear, making her yelp in surprise.

"Mama! You'll mess up my hair!" Myra squealed, rubbing the offended ear and brushing a rebellious lock of hair out of her eyes. I couldn't hold back a snort of my own, earning a cuff on the back of my head.

"You look beautiful, My Lady," Addie said quietly, turning to face her. She wasn't wrong. Half of Myra's auburn hair was ornately braided on top of her head with several locks of curls cascading down her back. Her dress was fitted to her body with the neckline fashionably cut across her bust. The beige fabric glimmered under white overlay in sweeping layers. Addie had done her makeup perfectly. Myra's high cheekbones and bright blue eyes were striking in every light. Every angle and line of the garment showed off Myra's natural beauty, and made it take on a regal quality.

"Let's just hope Levi agrees," Myra said, looking at herself in the mirror as her cheeks reddened. Something shifted in the Matron's eyes as she looked Myra over, her face softening ever-so-slightly. Mother and daughter looked at one another, and I looked away, feeling as if I was intruding on something private.

"You are a grown woman today, not a love-sick teenager. Zhe weight of our family name rests on your shoulders," she said softly. Myra made to reply, but the Matron held up a hand to silence her.

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"Be sure to carry zhat name well," she murmured, reaching slowly into the neckline of her deep blue dress with satin-gloved hands of glimmering gray. Slowly, she withdrew a long silver chain with a scarlet stone hanging from it. It gave off a soft glow as she held it up. Myra's hands went to her lips as she beheld it.

A soft smile pulled at her mother's face as she walked behind Myra, brushed her hair aside, and secured the chain around her neck.

"Zhis has been in my family for two-hundred and seventy-four years. Zhe chain is pure silver, and will repel most persuasion enchantments."

Her expression turned wry.

"It 'as been useful more zhan once. Zhe stone comes only from L'Mere island. Zhe place of my birth. Now," The Matron said as she settled Myra's hair back into place, "It is yours."

She came back around, and looked Myra full in the face as she recited the age-old wedding tradition rhyme.

"A trinket of olde made anew,

A treasure of luck truest of true,

A symbol of love in darkest night to get you through,

And a stone gilded in red-flamed hue."

The Matron smiled then, seeing our dumbfounded faces. Holy shit, I never knew the old bat had the ability to be sentimental like this. But, as always, the moment ended, and she returned to her normal self. Unfortunately.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as her gaze shifted to me. She hesitated, as if not knowing what to say. I was just about to break the silence when she produced a paper from her sleeve and handed it to me.

Frowning, I uncurled it to reveal a direct withdrawal slip from the Beaufoutonte family account with my payment on it in full.

"You have done your job adequately, Ms McAlister. Do try to make it one more night wizhout embarrassing us," she said dryly, her hands folding over her middle. All the maternal glow was gone from her expression as we stared at one another.

The Matron pinned me with her eyes for a few more moments before nodding to Addie and turning to leave.

"When zhe music starts, zhat is your cue to walk downstairs. For now, I will--"

"Actually, hold on there, Matron," I said evenly, reaching to a side table and picking up a box tied in a silken white ribbon.

"I have something for you too."

The Matron arched a brow as she reached toward the box.

"Zhis is...unexpected," she said, starting to untie the box with deft pulls on the ribbon. A shit-eating grin spread over my face as she went to lift the lid.

"Oh yes. Just a little something to remember me by. I bought it just for you after the first dress fitting," I said brightly, amusment rolling through me in waves.

The Matron grunted, and dropped the box like it contained a rat. I saw Myra struggle to hide her grin as she also peered inside. Addie hid a chuckle behind a cough, turning away.

A corset fell out of the box as it hit the floor.

"The store-keep nearly had a stroke when I told her about the corset of yours that I ruined," I explained as Myra continued to choke down laughter. The Matron eyed the thing with distaste before stooping to pick it up.

I watched as the Matron went to the small pouch that contained Addie's sewing materials. My mouth dropped as her slender fingers picked up the diminutive scissors in the pouch and cut the stays of the corset. She met my eyes as she cut each and every single one, her expression unreadable. When a final snip, she tossed it toward me. I caught it reflexively as she put the scissors back into the Addie's pouch.

"Zhere," she said, a smile dancing in her eyes, "Now we are even."

And with that, she left the room.

There was a single beat of silence, before all three of us broke out into unladylike laughter, tears brimming our eyes. It took several minutes for us to calm down without erupting into more giggles.

"Did that actually just happen? Or am I dreaming?" Myra asked through gasps to catch her breath. Neither Addie or I were composed enough to reply.

Addie finished preparing us for the ceremony, having to nearly redo our makeup after our tears of laughter. She fitted me into a deep blue dress the same color as Myra's mother, but mine had silver stitching to give it flare along with patterns of roses going down the front. I reached in a hidden pocket Addie had stitched, my hand disappearing into the dark fabric.

"There's one more thing, Myra," I said, handing her an inch-long small dagger on a necklace chain with a familiar red stone as the pommel. I pressed it into her palm, a slight quiver to my hands as they pulled away.

"Tuck that into your neckline. If things go to shit, pull it out and say 'en gardes' to it. It'll turn into a short sword," I said quickly before I could change my mind.

"Do you really want me to have this? I'll probably stab myself," Myra replied, holding the dagger as if it were a snake. I lifted a brow at her as Addie slid a final pin into my hair, which was braided into a knot at the base of my skull.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, Princess. This isn't a gift. I want that back after the ceremony. You're just borrowing it for now," I said, sliding my feet into the flat leather shoes.

Myra rolled her eyes heavenward, but after a moment of hesitation, she slid the small thing under the fabric of her dress without further complaint.

"Fine. Anything else? Do you want to give me a war hammer next to match my bouquet?" she asked, peering anxiously out the back window and biting her lip. People were starting to sit in the rows of chairs lined up on the patio. I could see Levi and Dash walking around with Zachariah and Lucien, heads bowed in deep conversation.

I hesitated before replying, going to the window with her. I looked at her through my reflection.

"No, that's all...Lady Beaufoutonte."

Myra went still, slowly turning to meet my gaze directly.

"What did you call me?" she asked in a whisper, her eyes as big as saucers. I looked at her sardonically, parroting her words from two weeks ago in the Swooning Sparrow.

"Lady Beafoutonte is your name, Sugar."

Myra's brows knitted together. She was just about to reply when the door opened and a maid stepped inside hurriedly. A bonnet was pulled low over her face, and her uniform was a wrinkled mess. I tensed, instantly summoning shadows to my hands.

"Wait!" said the maid in a rough female voice. I paused, recognizing her even through her disguise.

"Ash?" I asked incredulously as I relaxed, "Why in Fate's fiery asshole are you here?"

Ash ripped the maid's bonnet off her head, and I gasped. New wounds were drawn all over her face until there was barely clean skin on any part but her chin. Angry bruises spotted her temple and cheekbones, the left side still swollen. It looked like someone had used a branding iron to draw more X's on her cheek, forehead, and even into her hairline.

"Puma's came to the house," she uttered as she slumped into a chair, "And they...they took the Elemancy gun."

That's when the music started.