LOGINEvelynI walk from the bathroom to my dresser in my usual state of undress. This time, I have my recent shower to blame.Emma worked me hard when we trained this morning. She kept teasing me that I’m getting soft spending so much time in her brother’s bed instead of on the mat.I pointed out that it
EvelynI couldn’t say how many days it’s been. All I know is that my wound is healed, and I got the sign off from Dr. Zorinski to be more active.Alexander and I have certainly been taking advantage of that.I wake up like I have been every morning: Alexander and I snuggling, one of us hard, the oth
EvelynI wake up in the hospital wing attached to an IV. My stab wound is bandaged back up. My stomach sinks at the sight of both as I put it all together.Alexander was fine. I’m clearly not. It was some sort of false alarm.I’m still dying.“Hey, sweetie.” I turn toward the sound of Alexander’s vo
EvelynI wake up to a sliver of light cracking through the curtains like I’ve slept all night and into the next day. Part of me is sad to have slept away so much of my last remaining hours, but I also know there’s nothing to be done about it now.I stretch out my arms, sitting up and rolling my shou
Alexander grips my shoulders tightly, less with affection and more with the fear of losing me. I grip his jacket just as steadfastly.I really need to get back to bed. I hate that my days outside are over—because I know now that they are. I’d like to squeeze every second out of this last ever outing
EvelynAlexander looks out over the water as the river carries us back the way he rowed, slowly drifting past the dock where we started off. He looks out at the people walking by on shore. He gazes down at our intertwined hands, kissing mine over the gloves.He doesn’t look me in the eye.“Do you no
EvelynI stand my ground in the shadows of the grand ballroom, even as my heart races at the idea that the tyrannical king may have discovered we’re mates. When he calls me over to him, I can hear my pulse pounding in my ears.“I’d like some wine please,” he says, handing me his glass.I take it qui
EvelynI lean back in surprise as Alexander lifts my hair without warning. Even as nervous as I am, it reminds me of all the glorious ways he touched me last night.Alexander examines both sides of my neck. I work to keep my breathing even, hoping the makeup I used to cover up his marks works.He le
EvelynI stand with my heart threatening to beat clear out of my chest as Alexander looks me over with those penetrating blue eyes. I feel so exposed beneath his gaze that I half expect him to find the truth hiding in the folds of my mind.Yet he clearly believed me based on the punishment that he d
EvelynI’m so relieved when one of the ministers proposes my expulsion. I work hard to hide my excitement that I’ll finally be able to leave the palace and return to my family.So it comes as quite a shock when the punishment the king lands on instead is having me clean the grand ballroom.In fact,







