"You are to be my bride."

I slowly lift my head, my eyes wide with shock.

I see Kai melting into the crowd from the corner of my eye, so I pretend to look around and catch Kai's gaze for a split second.

But that was enough.

Enough for me to see through that blank mask he put on.

Everyone else might see the cold, poker-faced Enforcer right now, but I can only see the broken boy behind it.

I can see through his masks, the one he is always forced to wear around his own people.

And it breaks, shatters, destroys my heart, in the most painful way I can ever imagine, it wrenches the blood out of it, and I have to put all of my effort to not break down in front of everyone.

Kai's eyes meet mine in that split second, too, and I swallow.

I let my gaze travel back to Kitt, the monster I created, ignoring all the hatred and shock on the faces of the audience.

"As you know, this isn't exactly a choice." Kitt whispers, so that no one except me could here it.

I gulp and nod.

Or at least tried to.

I can't believe what I am about to say.

But I have no choice.

Because I know that if declined, Kitt would let Kai kill me.

And I can't do that to Kai.

So I agree.

Kitt wears a cold smile as he slips the ring onto my finger, and I fight the urge to take it off and throw it far, far away.

It takes all my self-control to not look towards Kai.

"Imperials," his gaze travels to the two guards standing behind me. "escort her to her room. Until her new chamber is ready. Paedyn," he looks at me, "we'll meet at Lunchtime in the dining hall."

I nod, and then the Imperials are dragging me through the crowd and towards my room.

The room I stayed in during the trials.

I turn my head, and my eyes widen as I see Kai silently following us.