*Rowan*The palace was cacophonous. The massive halls echoed with the sound of busy footsteps. People hurried from place to place, and repairs were taking place as quickly as possible in the dining hall. I walked down the hall to the temporary area where they were serving breakfast. I got some fruit and piled a few pieces of sausage onto my plate and carried it back to my room.I wasn't feeling very social. I hadn't felt very social in a while, so it should be no surprise, but today was especially bad. Aurora and Genevieve had left early this morning for Reyna and left me behind.The palace was empty without her. Empty and torturously loud and busy. Genevieve brought a sort of peace with her that I had come to rely on. She didn't get rattled by much, and she always had a plan. That was part of what I missed. After surviving the bombing, I found myself constantly looking over my shoulder.Jonah was becoming insufferable. He felt the need to constantly check in with me. We had ne
*Genevieve*Bradley had confirmed what I knew I needed to do. I would do my best to keep Aurora safe, but saving Rowan's life would be my new priority. Saving his life would probably save Budge's life too, if what Jonah and the other man had said about Budge was true. I fully believed that Budge would give his own life to save Rowan. So, that was at least two people I could save by not letting Aurora get away with this.She seemed different this time around. She'd been guilty of spending money a little frivolously before, but she was carrying trunks full of things she had bought while we were back at Reyna. Aurora's comment about setting herself apart from the common people started playing on repeat in my head. In a matter of a week and a half, Jonah had convinced her to waste money the way the king and queen did. It made me sick.Rowan was waiting on the steps of the palace when we pulled up. I was thrilled to see him, but I contained my joy. Aurora barely looked up from the mag
“You wore it,” Rowan breathed, gesturing to the pendant around my neck.“I won’t get many opportunities to wear it for a while. I wanted to take the chance. I was really taken by your note,” I answered kindly.Rowan had me in his arms in an instant. This was different from our usual, hurried episodes. He touched my cheek gently, the tenderness almost surprising. Our eyes met, the spark between us almost palpable. I couldn’t stand the tension, and the few inches of distance between our lips felt like a canyon. I leaned into him, pressing my lips to his.It's amazing how a simple pendant and a heartfelt note can bring two people together in such a profound way. The way Rowan embraced me made it feel like time stood still. This kiss felt more intense than anything we had experienced yet. The depth and commitment made me feel like I was living out some Nicholas Sparks book.Rowan held my face to his, tongue running along my bottom lip. I breathed him in, his breath like holy incens
Waking up the next morning, I felt light as air and heavy as bricks all at once. I stretched, yawned, and rolled out of bed. Getting up and ready felt like a haze as if I were still dreaming.They had managed to get the repairs done to the dining hall while we were gone for the weekend. I was impressed with how seamless everything looked when Aurora and I got to the dining hall."Thank goodness they got this done so quickly. Imagine how embarrassing it would be to have the wedding and still have chunks of the ceiling missing," Aurora giggled as she walked to make herself a plate.That sounded so out of place for her. When we had first arrived, she had been fairly quiet, but she had seemed like she really cared about people. The more she came out of her shell, the more I started to dislike what I was seeing.Once, as a teenager, I had been in a relationship with an older man. I didn't exactly have anyone around to warn me what a terrible idea it was, and I had gotten in over my
I hated being noticed. I had practically made a career out of staying in the background. Rowan was really pushing my buttons by making me do this. He even had Tony bring me a dress which he bought for me so that I had something new to wear for the occasion.Rowan assigned several of his own guards to watch over Aurora. It was supposed to help relieve me of my duties for the evening, but I had the feeling they were also supposed to keep an eye on her to prevent her from trying to kill him again."I should be thanking you for saving him. I don't know where I'd be if something happened to him," Aurora said as we walked to the dining hall."No problem. It's my job to keep people safe. I guess keeping him safe is an extension of keeping you safe," I dismissed. The seam along my ribs was itching. This dress was stunning, and it fit like a glove, but my nerves were making my skin crawl.It was a surprising choice, a style that I didn't realize Rowan was familiar with. It was made with
*Rowan*I'd been with lots of women. Too many, really. I was embarrassed that I had been so frivolous with so many people's emotions. With Genevieve, I knew I had been wasting my time, that I could never have shown love to someone the way I could for her.She deserved it. She deserved every lovely thing I could give her. Not only was she brilliant and strong, but she had saved me. I owed her my life.I had done nothing to earn her attention. I didn't deserve her love and affection, but she continued to shower me with it. I wanted to do the same for her.Her kiss was intoxicating. I was thirsty for more of her, drinking her in like water after a drought. Her lips moved against mine, passionate and hungry.Genevieve stroked her tongue along the roof of my mouth, sending sparks down my spine. I was coming alive at her touch, like nothing I'd ever felt before.I slid my hands under her sweatshirt. I wanted to take it off her, but I was afraid of hurting her arm. Instead, I sett
*Genevieve*There was another note on my pillow the next morning. I snatched it up, hoping for something sweet from Rowan. I was getting used to his thoughtful little gestures.'They're going to try to have me shot at the parade this weekend. Help.'That was all. The handwriting wasn't his usual beautiful script. It was still neat, lovely handwriting, but it was clearly written in a much more hurried manner. There were a few letters with wavy lines, indicating that his hand had been shaking when he wrote it.Poor Rowan. I wouldn't let anything happen to him. Budge and Tony would help us figure a way out of this as well. It had to be torture though, to live every day knowing that people around you wanted you dead.I had to find this third person. We had to determine who it was and make sure they were held responsible too. We had to hurry. There had been enough back and forth, enough risk. The wedding was quickly approaching, and I feared that if we didn't find them soon, they
*Aurora*I sat staring at my reflection for far too long. I wasn't trying to be vain. I just wanted to look perfect. Jonah had stressed to me over and over again that being royal meant appearing perfect. It was the reason he spent so much money getting his look fine-tuned, so he could present himself to the world exactly as he wanted to be seen.I hadn't yet spent the money on the surgeries and procedures that Jonah had. But when I was queen, I would. When I was queen, I would get an entirely new wardrobe. I had believed that the exorbitant spending of the king and queen was just frivolous waste, but Jonah explained it all had a purpose.Jonah helped lead me through every decision I needed to make since coming here. Ever since meeting him by chance in that meeting during negotiations, I had felt so much more relaxed. I had someone who could help me navigate every potential pitfall in this situation.It felt like so much pressure. I was having to rely on Jonah more and more, loo