Who Will Become His Bride

to burn an

h the crown p

n't be out

he still night air like

I could feel him the second he stepped into th

"Afraid I'll fall

r, but not too close. Always

fraid someone mig

my shoulder.

that's all i

ssume I'm

his eyes rake over me like I'm someth

here on your own

ink I'm her

e corner of his mouth.

" He folds his arms. "Wh

artb

ano

val,"

his voice to drop an octav

"It's the only

mells like r

e polished floors and velvet curtains, I can feel th

here want

ey. Fame.

e

t rev

ring stiffly. Her eyes darted toward the wall, probably a camera hidden behind

tly and ent

sheets. A gold vanity that looks l

the door

se

w

. My fingers find the hard outline of the tracker I hid i

e light pu

Still

ll know I

'll know

ice buzzes in my ear through the hid

e," I murmur, pacing the r

him, di

se. "

mb. The prince himself. Mr

what I e

at's a

Armed guards patrol the gardens below like wolves

e place is

an. Get the intel. Ge

reflection

o fall for the

use if you do, he'll ma

knock at

ic. Hide th

rapping the robe tig

red lips and a face that belongs on

ci

cou

doorframe like she o

e," she says. "I don

y n

ly come wit

re has secrets. Some of us ar

yes n

ty. Smart. Think they can sl

ink I'm

nk you'r

m not afra

at p

she l

It'll make it more

t, I didn

many

many

d

o, carved out o

others think. It's not just his power,

ple. The way he looked at me ear

susp

not suppose

e's r

omes fast

h the halls, summoni

e buzzes through my earpie

't re

the lion's

. Long tables. Silver trays

far end, flanked by

ounces, "we test discipli

res to t

the man to your right. Wine, food, ma

ective

that, we

a

s a humili

breaks

tay steady

s with the bottle opener.

e to my

urse, it'

e. Doesn't blin

ne without sp

e plat

a ste

fork. Cut a s

ew

llo

h

ur hands sh

ree

y're

e fork dow

h. "Is this pa

low. "This is me

on't k

e not here to

What do you thin

Not a smile, so

dangerous game. And I want

ds, three girls

res at me a

oesn't sa

om, a folded slip of pape

else

I'm alone i

old

sent

chapel. Midni

ned with a s