Chapter 2

RILEY'S POV

"Is this the Listener?"

The hoarse voice in the dark room asked, just then, the lights went on.

I scooted by the corner of the empty room gazing blankly at the middle-aged man in an immaculately tailored suit as he marched my way, leaned into me, his blue eyes were all I could see before he strengthened.

"Strip her of all filth, we present her to Prince Norman in two hours."

The perfectly coiffed lady in the room doubled over leading me to the connecting room. After a while of bathing, hairdo, and beautiful floral dress, I looked pretty in the mirror.

"Can you tell me what my thoughts are right now?" The tall and imposing man raised his chin in subtle challenge when I met him by the door.

My horror began. I knew nothing of his thoughts. I bit my tongue and tried not to shake my head as he led me through the long and pearly hallway.

I didn't expect it, but they clothed and fed me. It wasn't as terrible as I'd imagined yet, The pancakes tasted better than what I ever had. After breakfast, they led me to the main section of the opulent mansion, my eyes taking in its beauty.

Prince Norman wasn't hard to recognize. His iconic golden hair and brilliant green eyes made me realize the man on the threshold of the main building was the son of King Baldwin Edelman. Handsome as always.

I gulped.

"Chadwick you're late!" He growled, green eyes searching the middle-aged man beside me.

"I'm here. She's here, your Majesty," Chadwick amended, bowing courteously.

"Get her in the truck, we head East." Prince Norman commanded, starting towards the waiting car, he paused in his tracks, glanced over his shoulder at me before he changed his heart, "No, she'll ride with me."

This doubled my anxiety.

Was it safe to be the one to tell them I had no such abilities other than waiting until they found out? Disappointment was never a good emotion. This Prince could kill me if he found out in the face of danger I didn't possess the gift he sought.

Prince Norman reached the car in no time with his hard jaws clenched, his gaze peering impatiently my way.

A nightmare was unfolding before me. Chadwick used his index finger to kick-start me. A jab on my shoulder blade had me moving towards the waiting prince.

It was hard not to gawk at the handsome Prince in the morning sun looking like a god straight out of Greek. His sheened hair glowed in the sun, height was intimidating.

This had to be a dream. Walking to Prince Norman by his car was a dream I never thought could come true.

"What is your name?" He asked when I stood before him, waiting to be granted access to the car.

"Riley Cooper," I mumbled quietly with eyes on my sweaty and trembling fingers.

I was beyond intimidated.

His eyes searched me a little longer than expected, something at the edge of his green eyes that was inexplicable. He nodded, stepped aside, and held the door open for me.

Without an idea of where we were headed, I stepped into the car feeling like my heart would convulse at any moment. Norman settled beside me in his seat, his attention on the phone in his hand as his chauffeur set the car in motion.

His clenched jaws made it seem he constantly was grinding rocks with his teeth. His gaze darkened dangerously as he typed briefly into his phone, an air of warning settled around his hardened features. His eyes, lips, and how intoxicating his woody scent filling the car to plague my nostrils was. This man would certainly kill me for deception.

He cleared his throat and looked away from his phone, eyes falling on mine. I Instantly averted mine, flustering to be caught ogling his way.

"Sorry." I gulped, feeling more embarrassed than ever.

Norman studied me from the dark end of his car, his long legs stretched out in front of him, a frown plastered on his harshly attractive face, fingers in a steeple in front of his curious lips.

How was he real?

"Your first task is pretty simple," his deep accent had an eerie effect on me. He considered me briefly before adding, "You're going to attend a meeting with me. Mr. Chadwick will give you a notepad, I need you to write in it every thought in the room, every single thought including mine. Hand this notepad to me afterward."

All the air left my lungs. My fingers grew instantly numb.

"Is this something you can do, Riley?"

His deceptive mildness was one trick I could never fall for. I heard tales of this man's ruthlessness.

Tell him the truth!

My brain argued. Now was the moment of truth. It was now or never.

His brows furrowed when I took longer than demanded to respond. Lying to the High Prince was punishable but his hardened gaze suggested he wasn't the man to mess around with, my head seemed to have a mind of its own because it nodded convincingly.

I had no idea how long we'd driven for but the sound of gravel crunching, accompanied by a mechanical whirl forced me to peel my gaze from Norman in a suit and tie to the window. The car drove another minute and pulled up in front of a business complex building.

"Can I use the bathroom?" I requested the second my feet touched the ground right after Norman.

If cast deaf ears to my request.

A phalanx of security guards all in black sleekly tailored suits led us towards the front entrance and stepped aside only when we stepped into the elevator.

Mr. Chadwick, Norman's executive assistant, handed me a notepad and whispered into my ears, "Prince Norman's counting on you, don't mess this up."

And if I did?

"You're not breathing, Riley." Mr. Chadwick pointed out.

I nodded regardless and focused more on my breath until we walked into the vast conference room.

Bile rose from the pit of my stomach and threatened to spill. This had me more nervous than I ever could be.

This certainly was the end of me.