nna'

ad-absolute

e, my breath catching in my throat a

l sensation of teetering on the edge of life and death ling

so close

as I gasped for breath, my body trembling a

d forward like a puppet whose strings had just snapped, an

ze. His grip on my waist made me shiver, and I could f

aged to whisper, my vo

ed through his eyes, but it vanished j

losing my balance again

that I realized how exposed I was. Humiliation crashed over me like a tidal wave, and I instinctive

ess..." I stammered, anx

that my misstep wo

a pensive look. Slowly, almost absently, he lifted the hand that had steadied me earlier and bro

s gleaming in his eyes-a subtle, lurking menace. His previous action carrie

ctively averted my gaze, lowering my

ice a bit shaky as she greeted him, "Your Hi

detached. His eyes flicked back to me once more. "Pick whoever yo

unusual had transpired, leaving me to

d repeatedly and hurried to es

e princes. The ones who weren't chosen looked relieved, their gazes filled with a kind of pit

at the thought of what the future might hold. The wei

dered sharply, her voice slicing

urned to address the rest of us. "Tomorrow, you will be presented to the king.

this ordeal was drawing to a close. But just as I r

o one is

e again, my heart lodge

d us, her high heels clicking against the floor with each confident

found myself lowering my head, a frown formi

rvience. "Miss Kristina Harrison, what brings you h

empt as they roved over us. "I heard Bryan showed interest in someone ju

e all heads turn

chance to speak, Kristina was already standing in

one Bryan's take