Chapter 24: Blood And Vows

༺RAYNE༻

My heart clenches when my eyes take in the sight of Liam as he trudges into the church hall. He's a mess—his black tuxedo slightly rumpled and dirtied, his white shirt stained red with blood trickling down from a cut on his temple.

“Jesus, Liam!” I run towards him, still clutching my wedding dress. “Oh my God, what happened? You're hurt! Where have you been?”

I reach for his shoulders, a look of horror plastered on my face as I examine his. Liam's cheekbones are dusted with flecks of dried blood and his eyes—his usually bright grey eyes—are now shadowed by dark circles.

He stops walking and stares at me, his eyes hard and his lips set in a thin line, looking for all the world like he's just survived a brutal assault. Even with the bruises and blood, he doesn't seem to be in pain. He doesn't flinch when I touch him.

“What happened to you?” I panic when blood trails down his head and drops on the back of my hand. “Liam, say something!”

Lucas marches over to me and Liam, hi