She didn't want to believe he meant every word he spoke, but her heart believed them anyway. Her eyes stung as she realized that he now held the power to hurt her far more deeply than Eryx ever had, if this turned out to be a lie.
She felt the priest turn toward her, and she knew that it was her turn to give her vows. Nervousness crept inside her as she belatedly realized she had forgotten almost everything she had memorized to say to Eryx.
Elle searched her mind, but only fragments of the vows came back to her. When she hesitated to speak, she felt a gentle pressure in her hand, the one Angel was holding, as if he were silently encouraging her to speak, reassuring her that it was all right.
