“What the hell is going on in here?” Nicholas asked. “Julian?” I was too stunned to speak, but when I looked over to Julian, I saw that he was smirking. Nicholas turned his rage on the producers. “Why are you filming this?” The producer jumped, then bowed much lower than was necessary. “It was

“I’m afraid to ask,” I said to Charlotte over tea a couple of days later, “But what does the public think of Julian and my fake relationship?” Charlotte closed her eyes. She clapped her hands together and inhaled deeply. “I don’t even know where to begin.” “Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

Elva was introducing Nicholas to her dolls when I came closer. I caught Nicholas’s eye and smiled at him, he made no return gesture. He simply blinked at me and looked back at Elva. Elva received all of his smiles today. While I was glad for it – I would never be jealous of my child – I felt the g

Nicholas After leaving Piper’s room, I knew what I had to do. What I should have done from the start, as soon as I learned of Piper and Julian’s fake relationship. I went to my father’s rooms and requested an audience. Nathan didn’t seem thrilled about it, but announced me all the same. The King

But arguing with my father was useless. Once he set his mind to something, he would not be swayed. So I did the only thing I could do. I nodded and saw myself out. As soon as I opened the door, Julian stumbled away from it, backing up into the hallway. I narrowed my eyes at him. He had clearly

The next morning, I awoke early and shuffled down with the rest of the candidates and their personal guards into the foyer for announcements. Nathan was already on the stage, rummaging through his phone. I spotted Susie and stood in the open spot between her and Tiffany. Veronica was there too, bu

The producer giggled. “What about when he takes your hand?” “No,” cut in the second producer. “Tell us what it feels like when he kisses you?” I worried my bottom lip between my teeth. Somethings were private, but I could share some others. For the good of the Kingdom. For Nicholas’s sake. “I

Joyce regarded me with a cool expression. His gaze trailed over me with disinterest. I felt suddenly exposed in my thin nightgown and robe. I wrapped my arms around myself. “Joyce? You were the one who wanted to see me?” I asked in disbelief. He nodded curtly. “I wanted to see if you were reckle

Looking around, I searched for another exit. There was another door further down, but it was more barred than the first, not just latched but also wedged with a piece of wood. Okay. So the doors were out. Giving up on the doors, I looked along the banister instead. There. An old oak stood near

Nicholas A late night knock rattled my door, rousing me from my sleep. I groaned, threw my arm over my eyes, and turned over, ready to ignore it. But then it came again, louder. Sighing, I lowered my arm and checked my clock. Midnight. Who could be trying to reach me now? My heart immediat