The hall erupted into chaos. Murmurs of shock grew into cries of disbelief. How could this man claim to be Jem’s husband when no one here had ever seen him before? There hadn’t been an interruption to a wedding like this in centuries…maybe ever. General Vespertine rose from his seat and leaned toward Matias.

“Get out!” he roared. When Matias didn’t move, he stepped between him and Jem and yelled, “You’re not allowed to be here!”

Matias lifted his hands toward General Vespertine, and blue sparks flew from them in a threatening arc. The general’s eyes widened as he watched the sparks fall to the ground a few inches in front of him. A few people screamed, and then the room went deadly silent.

Yet again, Jem couldn’t believe her eyes. Mages had died out hundreds of years ago. People who could wield magic hadn’t been seen for so many centuries that they had almost become a myth.

How was this possible? How could this be Matias? He didn’t have magic before. Was this really the same man she had eloped with years ago?

Matias lowered his hands and glared at Jem’s father. Jem could still feel the buzz of magic in the air. “Step out of my way,” he said, his voice low and menacing.

The two men faced off, each of them glaring at the other. Finally, the elderly Lord Penrose spoke again. In the confusion of the last few minutes, Jem had completely forgotten about him. “How dare you?!” he said, waving his cane at Matias.

His decaying teeth made him a hideous figure, and Jem winced for Matias. But as the man took a step forward, he suddenly reached up to clutch his chest. He began to gasp. And then, after an agonizing minute, he dropped to the ground.

There was a brief moment of silence, and then everyone began moving at once. Some people rushed to Lord Penrose’s limp form, while others made their way to the doors. Jem saw a few women, and even a few men, faint, collapsing onto the benches that filled the hall.

Amidst the chaos, Matias strode up to Jem and grabbed her. “You’re coming with me,” he said.

Jem looked down at the place his hand grasped her forearm and then back up at this man she hardly recognized. All she could think of was the magic that she had just seen him hold in his palms. She felt frozen in place. There was too much to take in.

Matias growled with impatience, and then, before she knew what was happening, his hands were on her. Effortlessly, he threw Jem over his shoulder. She yelped as his strong hands gripped her skirts and he began striding purposefully through the crowd, making his way to the double doors of the church.

This close to him, Jem could feel his broad shoulders, his hard muscles moving beneath her. She was in too much shock to process any of it. As soon as they reached the doors of the hall, she realized that she was being carried out of the building against her will. Even if it was Matias, she was technically being abducted. Reason kicked in and she began pushing at him, kicking her legs in protest, but he ignored her thrashing until they were outside.

Once they were in the dirt of the drive, Matias swung Jem down to her feet, and she stumbled a little before righting herself to glare at him. He just…he just manhandled her, as if she couldn’t walk! He dragged her out of her wedding without any explanation. Even if it was an unwelcome wedding, Jem still wanted to understand what was going on before she was bodily carried out into the street.

She looked at Matias angrily and cried out, “What the hell are you doing, putting your hands on me?!”

Matias just looked at her and said calmly, “You’re my wife. I can do as I please.”

Jem scoffed angrily, looking into his face. It really was him. His face was thinner than she remembered, and more chiseled. He had a scar running through his left eyebrow now. His hair had a slight wave to it now that it was longer. She had never noticed that before… And that stubble on his jaw…he didn’t have that before either. But it was him. The same hazel eyes, currently stormy, but still his.

Jem’s breath hitched, and her eyes stung with tears. She forgot her anger and without thinking, she reached out with one hand to touch his beloved face. “Mati?” she whispered.

Matias grabbed her wrist before she could touch him. “Don’t call me that,” he growled, pulling her close, his face in hers. Jem looked at him in shock, trembling. “Mati died two years ago. When you and your father sent me to my death.”

Jem flinched at his words. He was right—it was her fault that he had joined the armed forces protecting the kingdom. Hadn’t she just been thinking about it earlier this morning? Jem had eloped with Matias because she loved him, and she was prepared to give up her title and live a life with him. But her father had found them right after the ceremony, and his rage had been terrifying.

Jem remembered the way the general had towered over them, screaming that he would rather send Jem to a convent than have her marry a commoner. The general had wrapped his hands around Matias’s throat and told him that the only way he could be worthy of marrying his daughter was by becoming a knight.

Jem had been more paralyzed with fear than she had ever been in her life. She could still remember the panic in Matias’s eyes as he had looked at her, his face red, her father’s hands cutting off his air. She had screamed at her father to stop, to let him go, beating against his arms. The general was a terrifying man, and in that moment, Jem had feared his wrath more than anything in the world.

So she had supported Matias going into the army. She hadn’t fought for him. And within weeks of his leaving, word had come to her of his death. For two years, Jem had carried the guilt of letting him go. He had died, all because she was too weak to stand up for herself. To stand up for them.

Matias now glared at Jem. “Aren’t you going to deny it? That you and your father sent me to die?” he said.

Jem looked at him and then slowly shook her head. His eyes flared with anger and he threw her hand away from him. His voice and expression were cold as he sneered, “So you admit it. What happened is your fault.”

Jem just nodded. She couldn’t do anything else. But it was still Matias, her Matias standing before her. He had to have answers, even if he was angry with her.

“What…what’s going on?” she asked. “Did you really use…magic back there? How did you do that?”

Matias scowled and looked down at his hands. They started to spark again and Jem took a sudden step back. She didn’t know what the magic was capable of, or if it was dangerous. It certainly had looked dangerous when he’d entered the church. Matias curled his hands into fists, stopping the blue sparks from growing. Then he winced and turned away from her, and Jem watched him reach up and grab his temples.

Jem momentarily forgot her confusion and sorrow and was filled with concern for the man who she had chosen as her husband all those years ago. “Matias…are you all right?” Jem asked. “What’s wrong?” She reached out to lay a hand gently on Matias’s shoulder, but he shrugged her hand away violently.

“Don’t touch me,” he said, his voice gruff and angry.

Jem winced and dropped her hand to her side. She didn’t know how it had happened, but Matias seemed to truly hate her now. The realization caused her heart to crack in her chest.

“How dare you?” a voice boomed from the doors of the hall. General Vespertine was standing on the steps, a tower of fury. “How dare you try to take my daughter?!” he roared. He stomped down the stairs and raged at Matias. “Your marriage was a sham in the first place! You never consummated your union, and I will have it annulled by the end of the day! This is a farce!”

Jem heard someone clear their throat behind them. She turned and for the first time, she noticed an ornate carriage sitting in the drive. Then her jaw dropped as the door opened and a young man stepped out.

As if this day couldn’t get any stranger, Jem recognized the man from the carriage. It was Prince Lukka St. Leon, the youngest son of the king. She had seen him once before from a distance, at a ball a few years ago. He had a scandalous reputation, but all she had noticed at the time was that he was blond and youthful. She had never expected to see him here at her home. Had he come for the wedding? What was he doing here?

“Y-y-your Majesty,” General Vespertine stuttered. “I didn’t expect—what are you—”

“Good morning,” Prince Lukka said. “It looks like we’ve already gotten started here, haven’t we? I’m here to ensure that the great hero of Eyvind is given his fair due. Including”—he looked at Jem in acknowledgment—“his own wife.”

Jem was too surprised to remember her manners. She spun and stared at Matias in shock. “H-how do you know the prince?!”

Matias looked at her coldly. “Get in the carriage,” he said, not answering her question. Jem stood in the drive, clutching her skirts.

He frowned. “You won’t like what happens if I have to ask again, James,” he added, his voice low and dangerous.