"I, Sara Sterling, do hereby, before the priest and all assembled witnesses, willingly sever my betrothal to the Hawthorne family. From this day forward, the oath between our families is void. Our debts and grievances are settled. Neither family shall have any claim over the life or death of the other."
The instant the words left my lips, I tightened my grip on the dagger and slashed the blade across my left palm.
Scarlet blood welled from the wound and dripped onto the pristine marriage covenant, staining the emblems of both families crimson.
The crowd erupted. The church, solemn and stately only moments before, descended into chaos.
"Sara! Have you lost your mind?" Alvin roared. Instinctively, he lunged forward to snatch the dagger from my hand.
Searing pain shot through my entire b
