Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
“There is no escape.”
I nodded, kissing her shoulder. “It almost feels like some sort of twisted karma. Like, had I been greedier, more invested, had I wanted it more, Arthur would have lived.”
“Gale, nothing you could have done would have changed anything,” she said, gently turning around in my arms. “It is not your fault. I do not care what anyone says. Or how little you paid attention before. You are a good person. You are a good brother and a good—”
“And a good lover?”
She pinched my cheek. “And you will be a good king.”
“And you will be a good queen.”
“Ugh.” She hunched over and rested her head on my chest.
“What?” I laughed. “You can tell me, but I can’t you?”
“It’s just a big word. Queen. It makes all of me want to go hide.” Her shoulders tensed like she wished to hide back into her body.
“If you can find a place, let me know.” I laughed, brushing the free strands of hair from her face. Though it also reminded me. “Don’t think about the burdens only. You’ll have some freedoms too.”
“Like?”
“Wearing your hair as you choose?”
She paused for a moment before reaching up to brush the strands back herself. “You don’t like it this way? Everyone else says it looks better straight.”
“You could shave your head, and I’d still love you, Odette,” I replied, lifting her chin and forcing her to look at me. “I just want you to love you too.”
“You and your lines.”
“Romantic, aren’t I?”
She rolled her eyes. “If you were really romantic, you would have kissed me already.”
“Forgive me,” I said, and before she could reply, I brought her lips to mine, wrapping my arms around her.
Yes, it had been a hard day, but these moments made it all worthwhile. And slowly, what started as an innocent kiss became much more than that. I pressed her up against the columns, my hand rising to cup her breast through the material of her dress
“Gale,” she muttered against my lips.
“Bevilën,” I replied, wanting nothing more than to lift her dress.
“Don’t seduce me,” she whispered.
“Aren’t you seducing me? Out here dancing in the moonlight wearing this.”
“What is wrong with what I am wearing?”
“It makes me think of you not wearing it.” It made me want to rip it off of her and see all of her beauty underneath it, and with the way she held on to me and kissed me, she wanted me to do it too.
“Gale,” she muttered as I kissed down the side of her face, down to her neck. “Gale, we can’t. It’s bad luck.”
“Ugh.” I groaned as if she had poured cold water over me. “They’ve gotten to you, too, with these superstitions.”
“The queen believes it—”
“Now, you bring up my mother.” I pouted, lifting my head to look at her. “You truly do wish to kill the mood here.”
“Forgive me,” she replied, pouting back. “But I was clearly and specifically told while still in bed the last time that until we are married, there can be no seducing of any kind from either of us.”
“Good thing we are already married—”
“Shh.” She put her hand over my mouth quickly, her eyes wide.
Rolling my eyes, I nodded so she would uncover my mouth, and when she did, I quickly kissed her lips. “Fine, stand there, and torment me then.”
“Good, I will.” She beamed, and by God, it was beautiful. Her smile didn’t just make me smile—it made my heart beat faster.
“You are seducing me again.”
She gaped. “What? How?”
I shook my head, taking her hand instead. “Come on. I’ll walk you back.”
“How princely of you,” she said, squeezing my hand.
Damn it, why couldn’t I stop smiling?
I love her, my mind answered. I loved her a lot more than I thought.
The Morning Eagle
Tuesday, June 19
“Secret Affair!”
Prince Galahad met with his rumored old flame, Sabina Franziska, for dinner.
Prince Galahad is apparently tired of Odette Wyntor’s spoiled demands and welcomed a meeting with Prime Minister Ivan S. Hermenegild to have dinner with Sabina Franziska.
Witnesses at the dinner say the pair disappeared to speak privately with one another during the evening.
The Morning Eagle
Wednesday, June 20
“Palace at War!”
The feud between Sophia De Loutherbergh, Dowager Duchess of Elmburgh, and Odette Wyntor escalates as they both apparently cannot stand each other.
Sophia De Loutherbergh is fed up with the heiress's spoiled behavior and breaches of protocol.
Meanwhile, Odette Wyntor has a strong desire to Americanize the royal family (yet she still isn’t on good terms with her own family).
How will they be able to give the commencement this year?
Chapter 22
“On a scale of one to ten, how nervous are you?”
“About a thousand and one?” I replied, needing a deep breath because even though I was in bed and didn’t have to deal with it until tomorrow morning, just thinking about it now made me sick. “Mom, you know how I am about public speaking.”