SECRET LOVE WITH PRINCE

g off polished marble floors. Lush velvet drapes cascaded from towering windows, framing the moonlit gardens beyon

eria Elarion, this palace was

orset was too tight, the lace itching against her skin, but it was the least of her concerns. Tonig

ng the nobility

ss is to be

he kingdom of Vellador Princ

on. But does the prince

s spine. No, she did not wish for this. But her

the room, searching, yearn

ce A

eath c

ce, always overshadowed by his elder brother, the heir to the throne. He had no kingdom promised to him, no duty to

heir eyes met, the re

ances, of hushed conversations in the palace gardens, of hands brus

tered the moment

, his voice echoing through the hall. "My daughter, Princess Seraphina, is to be

in applause. Seraph

n. If she did, she feared the wor

d not belong to h

a prince she co

Her father stood at the head of the room, his presence commanding as ever, his expression firm. He was a king

tation pressed down

sperate to escape. Beside her, Queen Evelyne, her mother, gave he

doors to the ballroom opened. The guards stoo

ael of V

was to be

in the crimson and gold of his kingdom, with piercing storm-gray

him before this night, yet soon, she would be bound t

ushed aga

er of a

th hitched. She

ce A

re in the cold. To the court, he was merely escorting his father

oice was barely au

o him. If she did, h

g through the tension. He bowed slightly, a display of re

and curtsied, as was expected.

practiced grace, but in

is Highness, Prince Kael of Vellador, son o

ause. Mor

he turned to address her father. "King Edric, I am honored b

his head. "That is

iances like these were not abo

rmth of Adrian's hand again. But he had already step

s for

e would belo

ce Kael's piercing gaze studied her. He was a stranger, yet within

e erratic beating of her heart. Adrian had stepped back into the crowd, but

back to himself. "Tonight is a night of celebration

d in honey, and goblets of the kingdom's finest wine. The ballroom erupted into

arely notic

iven the seat beside her. His presence

Kael said after a long moment,

buying herself a moment before respondi

do not know each other, and yet our fates are no

ed by his bluntness. "You d

g away. "I am a prince, and soon to be king. My duty is t

er, but an

rebelled against it. Was that to be he

tem of her goblet. "And yet,

om gains a powerful alliance. Your kingdom s

hat wor

ell him that marriage should be more than a contract. But what use were suc

across the table, s

e knew him well enough to see the tension in his posture, the way his fingers

" she silent

her thoughts,

moment, the world aro

ael followe

eat rushing to her face. Had he

ms rather... interested in this arrangement," he said lightly, t

o understand. "Adrian is my closest

ong moment before giving

on, but Seraphina knew

watchin

e was watchi