Page 159 of Shattered Veil

“I don’t want to love something other than my mother’s gown. It feels like a betrayal,” I whine.

And I want Balor right now. But I’ve slowly gotten used to being alone while he’s at work. And I’ve even been going out alone, walking around Astoria and enjoying the warm spring we’re having.

The other day, I walked to Katya’s dance studio and worked with Lia some more.

I glance around the dress shop, considering Jillian’s suggestion. I need to pick something. I’m keeping her from Eoghan, which means that psycho stalker husband of hers will show up any minute.

A monstrosity of a dress, a ballgown overload, catches my eye. It can’t be any further from my mother’s dress, and it’s so gaudy, so loud, so over the top, it will get all the attention, and no one will really see me.

Perfect.

“How about that one?” I motion to it.

Jillian looks horrified. “Here. How about this one? It looks vintage.”

My heart rate ticks up and a shred of excitementskitters across my skin for the first time.

I unzip the crisp, white garment bag and take out the dress.

Pure murderous rage floods my veins.

“Wait. This...” I look up at the sales lady nearby. “Where did you get this? This belongs to me. It was stolen, it was—”

Jillian spins me around. “Ella, look.”

Balor stands at the entrance, leaning on a column. His legs are crossed at the ankle and he’s smiling at me.

Has he been watching me the whole time?

“Hello, butterfly.”

“You... You did this?” I look down at my mother’s dress. “How?”

“I contacted the person who bought your house.” He struts toward me.

“Mama’s dress was still there?”

“Oh no.” Balor shakes his head with regret. “I dug further into your father’s emails. He contacted a Goodwill near your house and dumped everything there.”

“You went to a Goodwill?” I hold my stomach.

“With Eoghan and Lachlan,” Jillian whispers. “Closed down the place for the day so they could go through the entire inventory.”

“You tore apart the place?” I go breathless.

“I’ll tear apart the world for you.” Balor takes the dress from Jillian. “Come on, butterfly. Let’s see how this looks on you.”

“You’re not supposed to see the bride’s dress before the big day.”

My mother’s satin dress is the color of the snow that fell the night of my parents’ wedding, she’d always told me. I also found out Snow wasn’t my father’s real name. And it could be the reason he didn’t want my mother and me to use it.

The dress’s high neck design with three-quarter sleeves, a slim waist, and a straight skirt with pearl trim sewn into the lace is breathtaking.

“This won’t fit me for very long.” Although anything can be altered these days.

“Then you agree, we shouldn’t wait,” Balor says, wearing his best suit, something rare for him.

“Wait...”