lin

corridor did not stay silent for long. My father's comma

e did not stop them. He only stood there with that dark, unreadable loo

amed, tears streaming down my face as the guards

his back to me. He looked ten ye

at lying servant, P

rling to face me. His eyes were filled with a cold fury I had never seen before. "Do you think I am a fool?

the sofa. "Jaylin, we treated you as our

gone. My usual tact

ove Arlin!" I shrieked. "Because she gets everything! She was born the Gamma's daug

You are confined to your room until I decide what to do w

heart was filled with a black, bitter hatred. Celena. Thi

ena

g with Jaylin's disgrace, I had already reac

l, isolated, and in desperate need of repair. A single, elderly servant was sweepin

nd announced myself. The old man gave me a long,

im. The air was heavy with

nd knocked softly. "My Prince, the Lady

or and gestured

an sat in a wheelchair by the window, his back to me. A

e tight with excitement. "It worked. Just as you

a shallow, rattling sound. "Jaylin's greed and Arlin's pride," h

esumed was his aide, said with a worried frown. "Her performanc

ghtly. "Clever or foolish, she is now my betrothed. And my key t

't a pawn in the King's g

e old servant's voice came from the doorway. "My Pri

men f

ir eyes wide with genuine shock. I

placed by a look of sharp, calculatin

voice suddenly filled with loud, performative concern. "Your

s thin frame wracked with spasms. He looked fr

... let her in. She is...

been standing beside him moments ago, op

st translucent. His gray eyes were framed by da

on in his jaw. The controlled rhythm of his breathing beneath the fake coughs. The way his fingers

perfo

nod, my face a mask

, my voice cool and ev

d on the wheel of his chair, and the faintest edge of interest shar