The women had come calling again, ladies of varying noble rank flocking to the castle in hordes as the news of my and Ellie’s failed engagement spread through the kingdom like wildfire.
I might have found it amusing, if I weren’t so miserable.
They primped and preened and had a tendency to find themselves “lost”—conveniently in my quarters and scantily clad.
Poor Blaise had the misfortune of being the one to escort them out of the castle. She’d complained of having half her robes soiled with snot from rejected women who assumed Blaise would be eager to offer them comfort.
I was probably ruder to them than I had to be, but that was for the best.
Let them spread the rumors that Prince Evander of Dwellen was intolerable. If it kept them away, I’d wear the reputation proudly.
It was in their best interest, anyway.
There had been whisperings about what had occurred in my and Ellie’s final trial, within the confines of those boxes. The theories regarding what we’d faced had been endless:
I heard they looked into a mirror that showed them the other’s truest, ugliest self.
Well, I heard they both gave up their hearts to save one another.
No, no. It was their firstborn they had to give up.
No one had guessed what I’d actually given up to save Ellie’s life. No one had come close.
If they had, there wouldn’t be a line of females queued up outside the castle right now.
When I’d made the decision to spare her, I expected it to hurt more, for me to feel the loss. I’d known then that Ellie would never forgive me. I’d known then that I was going to tell her about the exception Blaise had found. That I had to let her go.
It had hurt, what I’d given up, and I’d been shaking when I stepped out of that box.
But the more days I spent away from Ellie, the less I cared about what I’d forfeited.
I didn’t want it if it wasn’t with her.
My door creaked open, and I closed my eyes, sprawling out on my bed to pretend I was asleep. Blaise had been incessant about checking on me lately. The crease between her brow furrowed itself with such frequency, I warned her it was bound to get stuck that way permanently.
Let her think I was still asleep. I didn’t need her looks of pity to remind me of what I’d lost.
The moonlight shined so brightly tonight, it seeped through my closed eyelids, lighting them up with a muted white glow.
Tonight was a full moon. Which marked a month since I’d made the stupidest decision of my life.
The door creaked again, and footsteps pattered against the floor.
I let out a snore.
That should have deterred her, but I supposed Blaise knew me well enough not to be fooled when I was faking sleep. Still, I’d pretend as long as I needed to before she gave up. I wanted nothing more than to be alone tonight.
She was close now, and I could hear her breaths, sense her heartbeat, wild and erratic.
That was strange. Why would Blaise—
A weight settled on top of me, and the warmth of soft skin brushed against either side of my torso.
My stomach tightened with alarm as I snapped my eyes open. “Bla—”
It wasn’t Blaise.
A curvy figure, clad in nothing more than a flimsy blue nightgown, hovered over me, straddling my torso with her legs.
Her white-blond hair shone in the stray rays of moonlight sneaking through the window.
She traced my stomach with her finger, leaning over me, wanton desire caking her face.
Lilac and rosebuds filled my nostrils, swarmed my mind, making me dizzy.
I wanted her. I wanted her just as badly as I’d wanted her the first night I’d laid eyes on her.
I wanted her, and I hated myself for it.
She must have seen it in my face, because a triumphant smile spread across her lips.
Unfortunately for her, I’d recently come to the conclusion that getting what I wanted wasn’t worth it half the time.
Besides, there was something I wanted more.
Another blink, and I’d pinned Cinderella to the stone floor by her throat.
“You tried to kill Ellie,” I hissed, knowing as soon as the jealousy flashed in Cinderella’s eyes that I’d made a mistake. It was no matter, though. She wouldn’t leave this castle ever again. I’d lock her up in the dungeons and leave her there until she was a distant memory. An unpleasant dream. The type you shake off when you wake up, then move on with your day.
