Chapter 44

Diego

Nausea rises in my throat, a bitter taste mingling with the tension in the air. My eyes start tearing up unwillingly, and in the swell of emotion, I'm uncertain whether it's the emotional strain of the music or the weight of my grim destiny causing the silent cascade.

I can do this, I convince myself.

It's just the creepy priest and Diego waiting at the altar. Diego's tuxedo has been adjusted to perfection, or perhaps changed to an identical outfit like with my dress. The fabric of his tux flows elegantly, and his black hair cascades like a waterfall to his shoulders. Even with the lights shining brightly in the room, the darkness still envelops him, casting an eerie shadow. He stands there, akin to a dark god, an enigmatic figure defying the luminosity around him. It's fucking shocking that he hasn't burst into flames within this church, but I suppose that would include me as well, given the sins I've just committed.

Diego's gaze holds mine, a magnetic intensity that seem