oe

ough brick scraping my bare back through the tatters of my dress. Across the street

pri

before assaulted me-the heat of a stranger's skin, a guttural groan o

he images

ugh my mind remains entirely my own. I have inherited the original ow

I had survived ambushes, interrogations, and political purges. I knew how to

oses her virginity before marriage doesn't just lose her reputation. She loses her life. The l

ntact, I won't be disow

s of the guards, noted the blind spots in the security cameras. A low sec

foul air of the alley fi

this body weaker than my own but still retaining a ghost of m

ade my way to a small, unassuming service door at

ar scent of lemon polish and old money

s Ch

appearance-the torn dress, the dirt smudges, the wild look in my eyes. His expression wa

uspected. It was

and said nothing more, but h

ard the grand staircase, my only thought to reac

loor landing when the door to

there, his face a thundercloud. "Yo

and my sister Ilene stood with her hands clasped demurely-but

g my arm and yanking me into the study. The heavy oak doo

ing with false sympathy. "Please tell us you haven't

small, sad smile. The perfect image of a concerned sister. But when my father tur

re d

ack into innocence befor

n Miller. His nose was crudely bandaged, his eyes puffy

e. He was too well-

roll approached me in the garden after dinner. She said she was... unhappy with the engagement. Sh

rom his pocket-monogrammed. My m

said, his voice trembling on cue. "I d

ne. White linen. Embroidere

to him. Ilene had s

but effective. And now th

u have disgraced this family!" he bellowed

haking. "Get Dr. Evans. Now! I wan

rity

and absolute. If the doctor declared me impure, I would be sent to a remote "recover

pass. I w

world didn't get second

h the Boones! The favor of Crown Prince Brendan! You've de

ng, the pieces finally cl

e Brendan," not "Prince Aries."I am about to enter int

mp. Brendan Peterson, the crown prince, wanted a pair of eyes and ears in his half-brother A

expected to report his movement

d or dead-then Brendan would have to find ano

he was eliminating the family's investment in me-so that SHE

officer, kicked into overdrive.

pose me. The handkerchief was damning. M

ad made on

oll. The meek, frightened, wolfless girl who

ow who they we

my treacherous stepmother. For the first time since waking up

answer. Not yet. Firs

ed gaze. My voice, when I spoke, was quiet,

id calmly, "that you are all m