Vows of Blood by Lydia Hall

I was never meant to be a bride.

Wild. Reckless. Untouchable.

That’s how they see me.

Then my sister runs.

And I become the sacrifice.

Alexei Mechnikov doesn’t court.

He conquers.

Cold. Dangerous. Beautiful.

And completely off-limits to my heart.

I try to escape. He finds me.

I try to hate him. He saves me.

I tell myself he’s only my jailer.

My body calls him something else.

I wear a white dress like a lie.

I say vows that taste like blood.

I marry my enemy to save my family.

Then everything shatters.

I discover I’m carrying his child.

And someone wants my husband dead.

My own father pulls the trigger.

But the real enemy sleeps in our bed.

Whispers poison into our ears.

Turns love into a loaded weapon.

When I uncover the ultimate betrayal…

When I realize who’s been playing us all…

The blood on my hands won’t wash clean.

Choose your family, they said.

Choose your husband, they warned.

But what happens when you can’t tell the difference

between love and lies?

Some vows are written in blood.

Mine might drown in it.