He smiled, that slow subtle curve of his mouth.

  “You’re so beautiful this evening Tera.”

Beautiful. Yes, so beautiful. Empty words that meant nothing. Smirking, he leaned in to whisper in my ear. “But if I didn’t know better, I’d say you didn’t look quite the blushing bride.” He laughed, enjoying the charade. I stared back at him, lips unsmiling and eyes unblinking. My cold gaze unnerved him, as it always did, and he turned back to his wine and the other dinner guests. I smiled. As long as he was afraid of me, I was safe. But the ring on my, finger weighed heavy. It was constrictive, a cage.

   I tugged at it, but it held fast. If I had some soap I could probably slip it off my thin finger, but not without, for he’d bought the band two sizes too small.  I gave up on the ring and sipped my champagne slowly, my mind spiraling through a series of panicked thoughts. Looking around the table, I saw all the laughing faces of my family and friends. I twisted that ring again, the spot on my finger growing raw.

  He stood. Silence fell over the table, and I felt an iron hand squeezing the life out of my heart.

   “Dear friends, thank you so much for being here today.” That slow curve spread across his mouth again, twisting my gut.  “My lovely bride and I could not be happier, and tomorrow I believe we will have the wedding of the century.” Everyone cheered. The rich champagne made my head fuzzy. I could hear every beating heart in the room, the grating merriment and poisonous laugher screaming in my ears. Panic rising, I was about to jump up from that table and run when I felt warmth in my hand. Startled, I looked down and saw that my finger was covered in blood, the perfect diamond splattered in red.

  “Tera.”

My head flew up. He was holding out his hand for me, and everyone was silent at last, waiting expectantly. I offered my right hand, tucking the left out of sight. He pulled me up.

  “It’s now or never my darling.”

He kissed me, but the kiss was a death sentence. His or mine, I didn’t know yet.