Chapter 41.

NORA CARUSO The bruise on my neck was blooming. I stood before the vanity the silk of my robe slipping off one shoulder to reveal the mark. It wasn't ugly, it should have been a mottled stamp of violet and dark blue against my pale skin, but under the soft glow of the chandelier, it looked like a claim. I reached up, my fingertips hovering over the sensitive skin before pressing down. A dull ache radiated outward, making my breath hitch in my throat. Mine. That was what the mark said. I stared at my reflection. A normal woman would be covering this with concealer, a normal woman would be horrified that her husband… her captor, her enemy had left visible damage on her skin before a high-profile gala but as I tilted my head, studying it, I realized that I didn't want to hide it. "Ma'am?" The soft voice of the stylist broke my trance. I pulled my robe up, covering the mark. "I'm ready," I said. The dress was a deep, shimmering emerald green, it clung to every curve of my body like a secon