PTE

APH

enough to make me think it might split me open. I noticed

ard's uniform? Confusion turned to fear. I snatched a pillow and h

doing here?" I asked, aimi

heard my voice. My shaking ha

red the pillow jus

dom. This room..." He looked around, and so did I. It was the most beautiful room I had eve

e rooms in the pal

d enough for myself. I had heard that name before.

ers might come this far looking for me. I did not wan

a to cross into another kingdom just to drag me back.

mil

oom like this. Was the kingdom so rich that anyone could live this way?

llow by then. I felt safer. When he was close enough

rls, his sharp jaw, and his pale mouth made me grip the

by me at all. I had

en your wolf y

that I had lost my link with Regina

connection was gone. There was no reason to give a stranger t

a mate?" he

on. Why was he so set on reminding me of eve

had ended up in the forest. None of that came. He did not s

was not a full lie. I meant to make sure no one l

took another step. My fing

election ceremony today. You mi

ave dreams like that. Even in anot

to do something about yo

as filthy, dressed in rag

reated. Something in my chest softened. I had nev

ou do

physician too

a moment, like an actual princess. It was a prett

mate had rejected me. If a new mate happened to be the

I pictured the faces of everyone who had treated me like

sign up?"