Chapter One hundred and twenty two

Talia's POV:

Take a deep breath, Talia, I repeated to myself over five times. The ceremony itself took only about twenty minutes. Conscious of the camera trained on us, I smiled widely and did my best to look like a happy, glowing bride. My father was shedding tears like a kid.

I still didn't fully understand my own reluctance. After all, I was marrying the man I loved. When I thought he wouldn't become something new, I wanted to die, and it took all of my strength to survive from one day to the next. I didn't want to be with anyone but Nicholas. . . . and yet, I couldn't shake the chill deep inside.