“Oh, Juniper,” Laila says, tilting her head sympathetically at me. “That was…a bad deal.”“Yeah, that’s clear now,” I mutter, displeased as hell with myself but considering that it was really my only choice. If my family had been involved they’d have laughed Nic and his offer out the door. Dad might
“Damn,” Anton murmurs, tapping his fingers soundlessly on the table while he processes everything Laila just said. “That is…that is definitely not the bedtime stories I was told as a child.”“Oh,” Laila says, turning to him with wide-eyed interest. “What kind of stories did you have?”“About a mouse
All Contestants are hereby invited to attend the Beauty Trial this evening, escorted by their Heralds. Please wear only the enclosed garment and prepare yourself to be judged by your physical charms. The lady who least appeals to the Prince will be Eliminated at the end of the week.“What the hell?”
I turn away then, cursing swiftly and thoroughly, a newly fervent hatred burning within me.Behind me, I hear Anton murmuring very nice things to Laila, comforting her and trying to make her laugh. But even if I do wish I was as good a friend and person as he, my anger takes hold, my wolf prowling a
Nic drops us back into the room and warns us that we only have a few hours before the Trial before he vanishes. The moment he’s gone, Anton shifts back into his boy body. “Considering how fast hours move here,” I sigh, looking at the spot where Nic was just standing. “I’m sure we have even less than
“Seriously, Princess?” he murmurs, turning more fully to me and leaning back against the pillar, slipping his hands into his pockets, suddenly smug. “Tonight you’re negotiating your own mortality, the embarrassment of appearing naked before your potential suitor and his dad, the future fate of all m
And I hang my head again because I feel like such a selfish jerk, and an idiot –“It’s fine, June, I’m here for you,” Anton murmurs, and I feel that tingle over my hair and around the back of my head. I smile a little because I know he’s petting me now, like I do to him when he’s a wolf and I want t
“First,” Anton says, holding up a finger as he begins to name his terms, going slow enough that I almost snarl alongside my wolf. “You get to make this request about one girl – just one. The rest are fair game. I’m not going to have you controlling my heart at every turn, Princess.”“Fine,” I snap.