Chapter 1

The night grew colder as the prince walked through the corridors toward his room in the dim lighting of the chandeliers. He walked in, quickly taking off his coat and shirt before tossing them on the floor. The space in the room was more than he would ever need, a nuisance. The lavish lifestyle, the riches, and the glimmer were no stranger to the prince, however, he had no fondness for the things his title bestowed upon him.

The wind caused the windows to shiver and the flames of the candles to sway swiftly. Through his peripheral vision, the prince saw the silhouette of the girl sleeping on his bed, covered with a comforter. He walked closer to the bed. The dim light cast a candescent radiance on her, perfectly highlighting the shape of her face. The prince was surprised, but not shocked, to find someone in his bed.

Against his better judgment, he alleged her to be an intruder with ulterior motives. His previous encounters with infatuated girls had formed a prejudice in his mind. When he met girls as a young boy, he would be courteous, chivalrous, and polite, until he learned of their devious motives. He would sneer now at anyone who tried to get close to him. It's difficult to blame him, his father’s court had said.

The prince sat on the chair, patiently waiting for her to regain consciousness. And a few minutes later, the bed sheets ruffled and the girl’s lip quivered slightly, giving the impression of a bad dream. She awoke with a start, a gasp escaping her mouth before her eyes adjusted to the low lighting prior of the room. She rubbed her eyes and looked around. Her eyes finally landing on the unknown man sitting shirtless on a chair to the right side of the bed.

She exclaimed, "who are you?" clutching the sheets closer to her chest.

He leaned forward, his arms resting on his knees.

"Who are you?"

His voice was soothing, so soothing that it sent chills down her spine. The air suddenly felt thin.

"No, who are you?" she questioned yet again.

The young man rose from his chair, and in two steps, was over to her side of the bed. He placed his hands on the headboard, propped one knee on the soft mattress, hovering over her, and brought his face closer to hers.

Willow's breath caught in her throat as she slid on the surface of the bed to get away from him, but she was trapped. She looked into his beautiful grey eyes before lowering her gaze to his abdomen, which, on second thought, seemed like a bad idea. She returned her gaze to his before gulping. Dread and a sinking feeling.

"A question filled with mocked levity," he said calmly, "considering you are the one invading my privacy, lying on my bed. Wouldn't you agree?"

Her pupils dilated, lips parted as she sucked in a quick breath before her rebuttal.

"I was invited here, so technically, it's not my fault. Now if you get off of me I shall be on my way home," she said, feigning nonchalance.

"You must be among those girls desperate for a royal. I've seen people like you before. Who did you deceive to get a two-minute conversation with me? And how did you get into the palace?"

He stroked her cheek with his finger.

She glared at him and grabbed his arm, pushing it away. He stood up straight and took a step back until he was in front of the chair, hands lazily shoved in his pants pocket.

"You must be pathetic and lonely to conjure up such an assumption," she exasperated. "Sorry to burst your bubble but I don't know who you are, I have never seen you before, and even if I had, I don't think I would stop to give you a second glance."

He had a deadpan expression for a few seconds before laughing. When he moved closer to the bed, Willow panicked and shifted to the other side.

"Don't come close to me! I'll scream!"

"Hey... relax," he said softly, continuing huskily while surrendering his arms in the air. "I'm not going to hurt you."

Willow's breathing returned to normal as she stared hypnotically at him.

"I understand," the prince said as he circled the bed slowly. "I understand you must have been lost, you must know someone who lives in this palace and that someone invited you in. You happened to end up in my bedroom, by chance, and this was entirely coincidental."

He spoke while slowly moving closer to her, almost hovering over her on the bed again. She listened to him patiently while gazing into his captivating grey eyes. She noticed his lips moving smoothly, uttering a subdued tone. The sinking feeling subsided and she no longer felt threatened.

"You are right," she admitted. "That is precisely what happened. I apologize for intruding, but I got lost and it is a strange story of how I ended up here. I am willing to explain."

"I'm sure it is a strange story and yes you will explain," the prince assured as he swiftly handcuffed her to the headboard.