othed to Prince Miguel would only be a lesser imitation of the fate I had already endured. The only difference was that Miguel was human, which meant that if he broke my heart,

r whether fate intended to make a habit of it. I prepared to make a graceful

onor of your firs

red a

ncess O

ur Hig

y Oph

rity of a man who might have b

nt around King Ramiro, the harder it was to pretend I did not understand what I was seeing. I knew this man -- or at least, I ha

e perfectly pleasant smile still fixed upon his face, he did

a dance as well." I turned toward the prince in one final attempt to make a suspected

ked at Pri

t me as though I had a

ckly. "I merely wished to greet

wa

our Majesty, it would be an honor

ugh for one evening, he lowered his head and pressed his lips against the

red a

at was de

yourself with that sort

hich unfortunately brough

it was

eet O

own naming-day celebration were not a social cr

man would that b

ollowed the retrea

men the same thing and hopes t

lin

rather

familiar with Princ

ss to know the men w

any? Su

erfectly appropriate beneath the watchful eyes of half the court. Unfortunately, my memories were considerably less proper. My body remembered what it was like to dance with my husband. It remembered following his steps without

the turn too early,"

y caught bene

ha

ickered acro

sem

d before

o

ot what he

said

udie

y impossible. Perhaps he had noticed during the first few steps. Perhaps. The Moon Goddess cou

ld

only so the Goddess could return me eighteen years later

pear tr

early every eligible prince in this hall, Your Majesty. I believe the

row l

tial s

es

dreadful

missed an

ightened Pr

es

red a

n have the decency

you should not associate

tened slightl

men at all

u want, You

- and not merely in the literal sense. Ramiro'

Ophe

eath

ons suggest

ed by him. To be wanted by him not because the Moon Goddess had decided I belonged at his side, but because Ramiro himself had chosen me. Now he had said it plai

had no claim to her in this life. At least, no claim I was willing to acknowledge. He lowered his

not changed at

yes

e I hated

d have be

ce came out quieter than I int

I remembered of my death cou

e had not saved me the first time. Ramiro looked at me as thou

murmured. "I kn

art s

ate. Still my wife.

hesitation would have. Then he said the one thing

r father for you