s Clara grabbed the tra

ed to run away. From what? And wh

re. She put on a plain green wool dress and left the room without call

e entrance straighten

goin

sy. "The King said you were t

esterday? What d

ed to leave without security

uard to the other. "An

r man a

ep into her path, Mia turned on him. "Are you going to lay hands

pen and walked out. Th

t the market. People moved around her in every direction. Stall owners shouted out prices, cars roll

stepped inside, the cool air hitting her face right away. Mia paused

. "Would you like to

on't. Just call me Mia." The wo

ing out clothes and shoes. It felt refreshingly normal. S

ce came fro

heck-up with the do

standing a few feet away in a dark gray

id you

he said, taking a step toward her. "Half

So you sent men

didn't h

earby. "You came all the way out here

for you if you didn't wa

to buy so

asked someone to

permission to

sion went hard. "

g." Mia crossed her arms. "I

closed the distance between them, dropping his

t him. "You d

" William said. "No driver, no guards

ake care

t her. "You were

went dry. "P

n completely different sinc

hard. "I took

change your ent

his shoulder. "Then maybe I jus

emeanor breaking for a second into pla

exit. When Mia didn't move, he lo

lack sports car waiting at the c

pped in after her, shutting the door. The driver

d her arms and stared out the dark window. Willi

Mia broke

napping, or do I g

her. "You weren't kidnap

let out a short la

d her. "Your safety i

his tone was different now. He sounded genuinely

out first and held out a hand. Mia looked at hi

the pavement. William dropped

to my stud

s covered the walls from floor to ceiling, and a large dark desk sat in fron

don't think you realize what y

nobody was watching me. I didn't want anyone tell

should have

ou have s

g. Mia gave him a fa

his desk. "You're

e treating me l

lf why everyone is worried about you. You claim you don't rememb

ring at the floor. "I

a pen from the desk. "The bags will be taken to yo

k, stunned that he was dropping the argument just l

hel

William didn

an allowance today. Y

y looked b

that account in two

years. She stayed silent. William picked up his

eaning back against the wall once it shut. What k

ond she stepped inside, her stomach turned. Mia covered her mouth a

for the glass of water on the nightstand, but the room tilted violently. M

ng with me?"

ass, she reached for the bel

moment later. "Your Maj

gasped out before sin

he physician walked in

r Maj

alm to her head. "I'm sick to my stomach,

nd asked a few quiet questions.

ed. "What?

is expression seriou

at i

aren't

"Then why can'

ated. "You are te

air leaving her

Wh

n we

gainst the bedsheets. Pregnant. She had never even bee

y one person who c

h, her chest tight. The c