“The dress will be a surprise,” I said, keeping my smile intact. “That’s the tradition, after all.” “Are you always so traditional?” he asked, his voice turning suggestive as he looked at me in a way that made my skin prickle. Alexander immediately stepped closer, sliding his arm around me prote
Ella POV The memory of Alexander's lips against mine lingered even the next morning as I stepped into the bridal boutique. I tried to push the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand as my mother and I entered the boutique where Diana was already waiting for us. This was a place I’d only eve
"Well, I want to try something a bit different this time," I said thoughtfully. "What can you show me in a princess cut?" The man’s eyes lit up. "Princess gowns? Excellent choice!" He turned to my mother and Diana, gesturing for them to follow him. "Ladies," he said with a flourish, "if you’ll com
Ella POV When I reached the end of the hallway, Diana came into view. She noticed me immediately, and a guilty look flickered across her face. “What are you gossiping about?” I asked, my tone sharp as I fixed her with a steady gaze. Diana straightened her posture and gave a tight smile. “Oh, n
I knew it wasn’t going to happen again. The kidnapping had most likely been Amanda’s doing, even though I’d never been able to prove it. This time, there was no betrayal lurking among us. My mother had arranged everything, and we were perfectly safe. But logic couldn’t stop the fear that gripped
Ella POV By the time we arrived at the restaurant, I felt almost sick with anxiety over the conversation I’d have to have with Alexander. I couldn’t even imagine one of my parents speaking about me with the level of suspicion that Diana showed toward Alexander. The thought alone was enough to le
It had been a situation I couldn’t easily escape, nothing more. My mother knew that, and so did Alexander, so Diana’s remark didn’t sting as she probably intended. Still, Alexander’s jaw tightened slightly as he turned back to me, and I gave him a reassuring smile. This was one battle I wasn’t abo
Ella POV Our goodbyes with Diana were polite, but the relief on my mother’s face was palpable the moment the car pulled away from the curb. Her smile faded, replaced by a serious expression that made my stomach twist uneasily. Just yesterday, she had seemed so fond of Alexander, and now it felt
Ella POVThe night we had been working towards for so long was finally here. It didn’t seem real, but it was finally happening.It was election night.All day Alexander and I had been answering questions from reporters and making phonecalls to voters, hoping to get as many people as possible to show
He glanced at me, a knowing look passing between us. We would face whatever came next together.After dinner, Sabrina and Alexander took Lexie up to get ready for bed. She wanted a bedtime story from Alexander and he seemed happy to do it.Once we were alone in the living room, my mother pulled me t
Ella POVAlexander and I spent the day in my family’s packlands with Lexie, a rare moment of peace before the election.The official statement revealing Lexie’s identity had been carefully crafted—Alexander had asked for privacy for her sake.The response had been mixed, but most people saw it as a
“It does,” Elizabeth said. “But people also fear what they don’t understand. Alexander has spent years in the shadows. Half of what he’s done is still a secret. People don’t know that he’s…” she hesitated, looking away for a moment. “Now, they’re being asked to trust him with the kingdom.” She sighe
Ella POVI sat across from Elizabeth at a quiet restaurant, a half-empty glass of wine in front of me. The air between us was lighter than it had been in months, but there was still an unspoken tension—a lingering wound that was still healing.Elizabeth had taken the revelations about Alexander, Dav
Ella POVThe news of Ironfang’s arrest tore through the kingdom like wildfire. Fear gripped the people as they learned the horrifying truth—powerful figures within their own government had been working with the North.For years, the enemy had been closer than anyone had realized, pulling strings in
Alexander POVI stood before the King, my body still weak from the poison, but my mind sharp and steady. Ella stood at my side, her presence grounding me, a silent promise that we would face whatever came next together.I could feel the weight of her gaze on me, the quiet strength she offered just b
Ella POVIt took several days before Alexander could stay awake for more than a few minutes at a time.Those days felt like an eternity to me, sitting at his bedside, watching the slow rise and fall of his chest, hoping for any sign of improvement. The doctors assured me that the worst had passed, b
The King’s orders were not something you ignored. And though I had no desire to leave Alexander’s side, I couldn’t risk further angering the King—especially when I had no idea what he would do with the information I had.Still, my resolve weakened as she glanced at Alexander one last time. “He’ll be