Mag-log in“My dad is an understanding man,” I said, turning to face him fully, crosslegged on the bed, “but he’s also a King. He’ll expect more of you now.”“I’ll do anything.” Callum took my hands in his.I smiled faintly, cheeks flushing, and it had nothing to do with the sex we’d just had. I laced my finge
Liora’s POVCallum and I fell back against the pillows, both breathless and smiling. I tugged the neckline of my dress back up around my shoulders and pushed the skirt back down. My panties were somewhere under the bed, and would probably remain there until check-out time tomorrow.“It’s weird,” I s
I wasn’t sure how much time passed before I heard the knock.Mia glanced at me. I sat up.The door opened and Callum stepped inside. The first thing I did was look at his face to see where we stood. He looked calmer than when he’d walked away, but not entirely settled. He glanced at Mia and Zane.“C
Liora’s POVThe words hung in the air between us.Callum didn’t say anything for a long moment. He just looked at me, and I looked back at him, and somewhere behind us a truck rumbled past on the highway and the oak tree overhead rustled in the breeze.“Say that again,” he said.“I’m the princess,”
Liora’s POVI smelled cheap detergent and something faintly musty underneath the faint trace of fast food somewhere nearby. I blinked my eyes open and found a low, popcorn ceiling hanging above me, a large water stain in one corner.I frowned. The last thing I remembered, I was in a dark room. A cel
Zane was quiet for a moment. He leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees, and looked at the floor.“I can’t blame you for wanting a family,” he said in a low voice that was so out of character for him. “But those people are not your family.” He glanced up at me through his brows. “They never have been.”He was right, of course. More than I wanted to admit. My father had never been anything but a warden and my mother had only ever helped him with his schemes. They were both evil, and selfish, and only ever had me to serve themselves. They’d never been my parents. Not really.I looked at Liora. She had turned her face slightly toward me in her sleep, her lashes pressed against her cheeks, her lips parted just barely. The dress was rumpled now, her hair loose and tangled around her shoulder. She looked exhausted even while she was unconscious.“I’m going to go get food from that diner,” Zane said, pushing himself to his feet. “You want anything?”“I’m fine.”“I’ll get you somethin
. “My date ditched me.”Date? She had a real date? Wonder when that happened.“It was probably just a prank when he asked last minute,” she added quickly, fiddling with the edge of her cup. “Still… it felt nice.”“Well,” I shrugged, stretching out my legs beneath the table, “his loss.”Mia looked li
Liora I hadn't worn heels in a few months, but tonight I moved like I was born in them.Because I prctially was.Click. Click. Click.Each step down the marble staircase echoed like a countdown, like the past calling me home.The ballroom stretched out before me, impossibly vast, trimmed in gold le
Callum didn’t respond. Just pressed his lips together like he was holding in something that tasted bitter.I leaned back, eyes drifting to the mirror across from us.My hair curled perfectly today, soft waves pinned with gold clips like little crowns running down my part. My outfit hugged every curv
“Callum!” Bianca’s voice sliced through the air, rising above the music and soft conversation below. “Where did you go?!”And just like that, the spell broke.The tension in my shoulders returned. The weight. The roles.Who was I kidding?Liora was done with me. Done with the silence, the empty glan







